The growing debate over digital price tags

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of electronic shelf labels in retail and the concerns raised by labor unions regarding pricing practices.

Electronic shelf labels are nothing new. Lately, though, the topic has been making headlines as companies like Kroger and Walmart announce they'll be rolling out more of the technology across their stores. The small screens replace the paper stickers that store employees would have to replace by hand anytime there is a price change or stock change. But this is raising concerns among grocery store workers and consumer advocates about the potential for unfair price increases. In turn, the United Food and Commercial Workers union is making a legislative push across states and in Congress to regulate what companies can and can't do regarding in-store pricing. On this episode of the Modern Retail Podcast, special projects editor Melissa Daniels interviews lobbyists on both sides of the issue: Jason Straczewski, group vice president of government relations and political affairs at the National Retail Federation, and Ademola Oyefeso, UFCW International Vice President and Director of Legislative and Political Action. The interviews get into why electronic shelf labels can benefit retailers because of the efficiency they provide, including increased accuracy, saved staff time and faster…

People in this episode

Host: Melissa Daniels

Guests: Jason Straczewski, Ademola Oyefeso

Topics covered

• digital price tags
• electronic shelf labels
• grocery store technology
• labor concerns
• pricing regulations

Keywords

• electronic shelf labels
• price changes
• grocery technology
• labor union
• surveillance pricing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kroger, Walmart, United Food and Commercial Workers, National Retail Federation

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