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Wal-Mart to Add 400 Stores to RFID Program

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores will continues to expand its RFID capability by enabling an additional 400 Wal-Mart stores by the end of this fiscal year, Wal-Mart Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Rollin Ford said in a speech Monday. Last year, Wal-Mart stated that it intended to expand its RFID rollout from about 500 stores to 1,000 in 2007, also doubling the number of participating suppliers to 600. At the RFID Journal Live conference in Orlando, Fla., Ford discussed the technology’s current and future benefits to both business and consumers including broad benefits for improving sustainability. “Through RFID technology, Wal-Mart is providing value to customers, working with our suppliers to deliver collaborative benefits that allow people to save money and lead better lives,” Ford said. “We have only gotten started, and we are continuing to roll out to more stores at the same rate as the last two years.” He said current benefits include a 30% reduction of out-of-stocks, reduction of excess inventory in the supply chain, and sustainability impacts. Ford also outlined advancements including pallet locators now being used at Sam’s Club locations as well as future benefits in pharmacy accuracy, grocery freshness, software, CD and DVD authentication, and 30-second store checkouts.