Sato, a provider of Auto-ID and labelling solutions, has teamed up with food services specialist Comerso to provide sustainable labelling solution to an Systéme U, a French grocery retailer, to help combat food waste.
Image: Comerso and Sato teamed up to help curb food waste for French retailer. Photo: courtesy of SATO UK Limited.
Through the collaboration, Sato and Comerso have implemented an on-demand, linerless label printing solution which allows consumer to focus on end-of-life products.
The system uses Sato’s TH2 and PW2NX Series portable label printers, as well as hands-free adaptor kits for trolleys.
Sato said that the system can be connected automatically to the retailer’s network and database and helps to automate markdowns for operators.
Sato France business development manager Benoit Gourlay said: “The SATO system removes the possibility of input error and saves on paper and backing liner waste. At a glance, the customer can identify the saving they’ll make if they choose a marked-down item.
“We’ve also added value for the customer by implementing linerless labels, which offer substantial environmental and cost-saving benefits. Not only are we supporting the prevention of unnecessary food waste, we are helping the retailer to reduce its carbon footprint.”
According to the French Agency for the Environment and Energy (ADEME) data, around ten million tons of food is lost or wasted in France annually.
Additional features of the system include Sato linerless labels, which are pressure sensitive labels without a release liner.
Sato said that the incorporation of its TH2 and PW2NX Series printers allowed the Systéme U to increase its resale rate of marked-down items by up to 85%.
Additionally, access to Sato’s track and trace technology has enabled the retailer to review its unsold items against future orders.
Comerso IT and quality manager Phillipe Merlet said: Food waste is something we are serious about combating in France. We’re delighted to have streamlined Systéme U’s mark-down process as a result of our partnership with SATO.
“We can now highlight end-of-life products to supermarket customers in a few simple steps; saving them money and preventing unnecessary waste.”