Researchers at the University of Parma’s RFID Lab have been examining the impact of pallet- and case-level RFID deployments in the fresh food supply chain, with a focus on retail stores. While tracking the flow of highly perishable fresh foods from different manufacturers through the distribution channel to three supercenters of a major retailer, researchers discovered that out-of-stocks are an element of a wider issue: a store’s overall stock-management policy. Some store managers keep low stocks on store shelves and in the back room, while others maintain high inventory levels. Neither policy is optimal, and as a result, customers often find a quantity of perishable foods but not necessarily the quality—or freshness—they would like. Learn how the use of RFID can reduce product shrinkage, which can impact as much as 5 percent of store turnover for fresh products.
