Ariston-Nord-West-Ring has joined forced with Garant Schuh + Mode in launching a new so-called European Clearing Center (ECC) for electronic data interchange (EDI), offering it as a single neutral, rapid, secure and transparent business platform for inventory management and electronic payments to all interested parties. It is largely based on the ETOS platform , which is already used by many shoe retailers affiliated with both groups. ETS, a subsidiary of ETOS, will have a 70 percent stake in the ECC. ANWR and HDS, the German shoe industry association, will each have a 15 percent stake. More information on the ECC will be divulged at the GDS fair in Düsseldorf next month.