RFID technology, which uses radio waves to automatically identify and track data between tags and readers, will be fully implemented across Tu‘s clothing departments within the Sainsbury’s store estate by early next month.
The rollout follows a successful pilot earlier this year, which has allowed the supermarket fashion giant to improve its stock level visibility, speed up replenishment and manage stock more efficiently.
“We’ve introduced RFID this summer,” Sainsbury’s clothing managing director Ben Smith told Drapers.
“We are going through a rollout now which allows us to maintain all of that product and spot any gaps that we [Tu] can replenish quickly.”
The rollout positions Sainsbury’s to follow in the footsteps of its high street fashion rivals already utilising RFID technology across its stores, including the likes of Inditex‘s Zara, Uniqlo and H&M.
This comes after Sainsbury’s hailed its “availability and style” improvements in its most recent trading update for the 16 weeks to 20 June, despite sales dipping 2.1% year on year.
It was reported earlier today (26 August) that Sainsbury’s is launching a new work experience programme, which will create 10,000 placement opportunities for young people over the next year.
Sainsbury’s new programme, KickStarter, will launch in October and will be run by the supermarket’s early careers team, colleagues, stores and store support centres to offer “hands-on experience”.
