Associated Food Stores, and many of its members, continued their rapid adoption of Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) throughout the end of 2024. The AFS retail technology team installed nearly half a million digital price tags across 45 retail locations throughout the year. The initiative, aimed at modernizing store operations and enhancing customers’ shopping experiences, highlights the dedication of the AFS retail technology team and the retailers who have embraced this cutting-edge technology.
ESLs, which replace traditional paper price tags, offer dynamic pricing, real-time inventory updates, and seamless integration with point-of-sale systems. This year, AFS introduced several enhancements, including “Page 2” functionality for improved inventory management and new templates like “Big Savings” to better highlight promotions. The rollout also featured product attributes, such as “Gluten Free” and “Keto,” to assist shoppers in making informed purchasing decisions.
Nationwide, digital shelf technology is having dramatic impacts on the grocery industry, providing retailers with tools to improve efficiency and meet evolving consumer expectations. According to industry reports, adoption rates for ESLs are rising as grocers seek to streamline operations and reduce labor costs associated with manual price changes.
Installing ESL systems is no small feat, requiring the retail technology team to travel extensively across the nine states served by Associated Food Stores. Often, this means spending evenings in hotels and working long hours to ensure each store is ready to embrace the new technology. During a recent installation at Decker’s Market, the team’s hard work and holiday spirit led them to craft a poem one evening in their hotel:
“All I Want for Christmas is Price Integrity”
’Twas the month of Christmas, and all through the store,
The prices were shifting, but stress was no more.
Gone were the paper tags, crinkled and torn,
Replaced by bright screens where new prices were born.
This holiday season, the team at Decker’s isn’t just decking the halls—
they’re decking the shelves with price integrity for all.