Walmart and Avery Dennison Innovate with RFID Technology to Reduce Food Waste
In a groundbreaking announcement, Walmart and Avery Dennison have unveiled a pioneering approach to enhance the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in fresh food categories. This initiative aims to tackle critical issues related to food waste and ensure optimal freshness for consumers, producers, and retailers alike.
Transforming Inventory Management in Fresh Departments
The collaboration seeks to revolutionize inventory processes and improve both employee and customer experiences, particularly in the bakery, meat, and deli sections. Recognizing the enduring challenge of utilizing RFID technology in high-moisture, cold environments, Walmart partnered with Avery Dennison to develop a first-of-its-kind sensor technology designed specifically for the meat department.
Enhanced Tracking for Better Freshness
With the introduction of Avery Dennison’s RFID solutions across various fresh food categories, Walmart employees will benefit from quicker and more precise inventory tracking. This advancement ensures that products are always stocked and readily available for customers. Additionally, employees will have access to digital use-by dates, allowing them to efficiently rotate products and make informed markdown decisions, ultimately reducing unsold food.
“We believe technology should make things easier for both our associates and our customers,” stated Christyn Keef, VP of front-end transformation for Walmart U.S. “By cutting down on manual work, we’re giving our associates more time to focus on what really matters – helping our customers.”
Commitment to Sustainability
Julie Vargas, VP and GM of Avery Dennison Identification Solutions, commented on the importance of this collaboration. “Supporting Walmart with first-to-market RFID innovation across multiple fresh food categories underscores our mutual commitment to people and the planet. By giving each item its own digital identity, associates instantly know the freshness of the foods they are handling, enabling better inventory management and resulting in less waste. This is a landmark moment for the industry, aligning with our own significant milestone as we celebrate 90 years of tackling some of the world’s most complex challenges.”
Aligning with Walmart’s Sustainability Goals
This innovative partnership is also in line with Walmart’s sustainability objectives, which include halving global operational food loss and waste intensity by 2030. By implementing automated item-level identification, Walmart and Avery Dennison are fundamentally transforming the management of fresh food products.
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