Looked at through almost any lens, Walmart is defined by large numbers — from its more than 5,000 supercenters and 1 million-plus associates in the U.S. to the over 120,000 items its stores typically carry. So when the nation’s biggest retailer decides to do something at scale, the impact can reverberate well beyond the company’s own operations.

Walmart’s recent announcement that it plans to bring electronic shelf labels to 2,300 stores by 2026 is a case in point. While a small but growing number of grocers, including Schnuck Markets and Good Food Holdings, have embraced ESLs, most U.S. supermarkets continue to rely on the tedious process of affixing paper tags to shelves. But as Walmart begins to reap the rewards of freeing its workers from having to manually update prices, other grocers are bound to take notice of the benefits that come with digitizing a traditionally analog task.

ESLs offer retailers an array of significant benefits beyond saving time and footsteps for store employees, including the ability to rapidly update prices, flashing lights to guide online order pickers to items and the ability to easily display and update product details.

As Suzy Monford, CEO of Food Sport International, noted during Grocery Dive’s virtual event last week, ESLs make “the transaction more efficient, therefore lowering the cost of doing business, therefore lower prices for customers, and creates a positive virtuous cycle.”

Who wouldn’t count that as worthwhile?

In case you missed it

Teamsters ends Tops strike

After a four-day strike, Teamsters Local 264 members at Tops Markets have ratified new four-year collective bargaining agreements that cover 550 drivers, warehouse workers and pharmacy workers, according to a press release from the union. 

Tops workers went on strike after the regional grocery chain “failed to offer acceptable contracts,” according to Teamsters. The new contracts add a $6 wage increase over four years, maintain union health care and improve sick leave policies. 

Publix to open a trio of stores in North Carolina

The Florida-based grocer is expanding further into North Carolina with three new storefronts slated in Rolesville, Garner and Raleigh, The News & Observer reported, noting that Publix confirmed to the publication that the locations “will open soon.”

The trio of new stores in The Research Triangle area comes as Publix has been rapidly expanding in the Southeast.

Hannaford’s tuition discount

In a partnership with the University of Maine, qualifying full- and part-time workers for the grocer are eligible for a 10% discount on all university courses offered at any public university in the state, according to a Monday announcement. 

This offering is geared toward associates looking to pursue postsecondary education and training, including law classes and online courses, and expands Hannaford’s Groceries for Grads education reimbursement program that launched in August 2022.

Number of the week: 1%

That was the annual pace of grocery inflation during May, down from 1.1% in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.

What’s ahead

Kroger to announce latest financial results

The grocery company is scheduled to hold an earnings call Thursday morning to review first-quarter performance. 

Grocery Dive taking Wednesday off

Our daily newsletter won’t go out on June 17 in observance of Juneteenth.

Latest retail sales data

The U.S. Census Bureau will release the monthly retail sales figures for May on Tuesday.

Impulse find

Kroger rolls out special offers for International Sushi Day

Kroger is dishing up limited-time flavors and special deals on its fresh, made in-store daily sushi, according to a Thursday announcement. 

Until June 18, shoppers can save both in-store and online, including getting $2 off any fresh sushi item costing $11.99 or more with a loyalty card. When buying from DoorDash and Uber Eats, customers who buy one fresh sushi roll get another one free. 

Kroger also wants to sprinkle some spice into International Sushi Day. 

For a limited time, customers can order the Cheetos Flamin’ Hot California Roll, which is available until July 31. The roll is coated in Cheetos Crunchy Flamin’ Hot cheese flavored snacks and topped with a spicy sauce. Come this fall, Kroger is introducing more heat with Doritos Flamin’ Hot Limón shrimp tempura roll.