Scotmid has rolled out over 550,000 electronic shelf edge labels (ESELs) across its grocery stores in Scotland and Northern England.
Following successful trials, the new technology looks to digitalise the independent co-operative’s stores by allowing customers to access easy to read and user-friendly updated product information such as prices and promotional deals.
Created by Samsung invested company Solum and run in partnership with technology integrator Herbert Retail, the ESELs look to increase store efficiency as item information can be changed centrally, as well as reduce paper or plastic waste.
This comes following Southern Co-op’s announcement in July that ESELs will be replacing its paper labels across all stores following a successful 12-month trial and to be put into effect towards the end of 2022 and throughout 2023.
“The project began in collaboration with our friends at Southern Co-op and has reached this stage through the hard work and determination of colleagues across our Society,” Scotmid head of innovation, Stewart Dobbie said.
He added that the technology has “given us all a morale boost”, making a change for its employees who no longer have to change labels individually via its previous paper ticketing method.
Scotmid Inverkeithing store manager, Martin Johnston said: “We were the first store to have Electronic Shelf Labelling installed and we haven’t looked back. They have transformed how the store looks and how we work.
“The old process of paper labels was laborious, a task we all dreaded. The installation instantly boosted morale and increased our pride in maintaining store standards.”
