MENTOR, Ohio — Walmart Inc. and Avery Dennison Corporation have unveiled a first-of-its-kind innovation that extends the use of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology into fresh food categories — including meat, bakery and deli — marking a major advance in how retailers manage perishable inventory.
The new RFID-enabled sensor technology, jointly developed by the two companies, addresses a longstanding challenge of using RFID in cold, high-moisture environments such as refrigerated meat cases. The breakthrough allows Walmart associates to track and manage fresh inventory more accurately and efficiently, with digital visibility into product freshness and expiration dates.
By embedding Avery Dennison’s RFID solutions in fresh food labels, Walmart can automate key processes that have long relied on manual checks. Associates can now instantly see digital use-by dates, rotate stock more efficiently, and make data-driven markdown decisions to minimize waste and ensure optimal product freshness.
“We believe technology should make things easier for both our associates and our customers,” said Christyn Keef, vice president of front end transformation for Walmart U.S. “By cutting down on manual work, we’re giving our associates more time to focus on what really matters — helping our customers.”
The technology is already being deployed across select fresh departments, where it enables faster inventory counts and greater shelf accuracy. Walmart said the innovation is designed to improve the shopping experience while supporting its broader sustainability goals — including a commitment to cut operational food waste intensity in half by 2030.
Avery Dennison, a longtime leader in materials science and digital identification, sees the Walmart collaboration as a milestone for both companies and the industry.
“Supporting Walmart with first-to-market RFID innovation across multiple fresh food categories underscores our mutual commitment to people and the planet,” said Julie Vargas, vice president and general manager of Avery Dennison Identification Solutions. “By giving each item its own digital identity, associates instantly know the freshness of the foods they are handling, enabling better inventory management and resulting in less waste. This is a landmark moment for the industry.”
The project also coincides with Avery Dennison’s 90th anniversary, underscoring the company’s long history of innovation in labeling, packaging and RFID systems. Through its Optica solutions portfolio, Avery Dennison is working to create a more connected and transparent food supply chain — from source to store — to enhance both sustainability and consumer trust.
The RFID rollout is part of Walmart’s wider push to digitize store operations and improve efficiency across its omnichannel network. The retailer has been expanding its use of data-driven systems to streamline inventory management, enhance the associate experience, and ensure that customers find fresh, high-quality products on every visit.
With fiscal 2025 revenue of $681 billion and more than 10,750 stores worldwide, Walmart continues to leverage technology partnerships to strengthen its leadership in sustainability and innovation. Avery Dennison, which reported $8.8 billion in 2024 sales, employs approximately 35,000 people in more than 50 countries.
The two companies say the new effort is demonstrating how digital identification can tackle one of retail’s toughest challenges: maintaining freshness and reducing food waste — while giving shoppers greater confidence in what’s on the shelf.
