Manufacturers and retailers have long wanted an efficient way to track individual items from production to sale, and
RFID seemed ideal for the task. It was to replace the 25-year-old bar-code technology printed on labels for everything from tubes of toothpaste to diamond rings.
To some Wal-Mart suppliers, achieving a return on their investment comes second to keeping the retailer happy. Executives at Beaver Street Fisheries and a few other suppliers say they hope the effort puts it in good stead with an important customer. Wal-Mart spokesman Kevin Gardner says that the tags have improved product availability on store shelves.
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