Waitrose has installed electronic shelf labels in more than 200 shops as the grocer pushes ahead with one of the UK’s largest store digitalisation programmes.
The supermarket is replacing traditional paper shelf-edge tickets with Solum’s Newton Pro digital displays, allowing prices and product information to be updated centrally across its store estate.
Waitrose said the technology would improve the speed, accuracy and consistency of price changes while reducing the amount of time shop-floor staff spend manually replacing labels.
The rollout covers fresh, ambient and specialist food categories and is continuing across additional branches as part of Waitrose’s wider nationwide deployment.
Installations have been completed while stores remain open, with the programme adapted to the operational requirements and layouts of individual shops.
Waitrose first unveiled its partnership with Solum in December 2025, when it said the electronic shelf labels would eventually be introduced across all its stores.
The labels can reportedly support functions beyond displaying prices, including showing stock information and helping staff with day-to-day operational tasks.
Waitrose targets increased store efficiency
The technology allows Waitrose to synchronise shelf-edge pricing with information held in its central systems, reducing the risk of differences between the price shown on a shelf and the amount charged at the checkout.
It is also expected to free up Partners to spend more time serving customers and carrying out other shop-floor duties.
Solum UK and Ireland country manager Mark Duckworth said passing the 200-store mark demonstrated how digital shelf technology was becoming part of retailers’ core connected-store infrastructure.
He added that the system would help Waitrose respond more quickly to changes while improving efficiency and the experience for both customers and Partners.
The supermarket said it would continue introducing the tech across the remainder of its estate.
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