Tesco has delayed its use of RFID systems because of the lack of common EU standards. It is therefore giving its case-level suppliers a breathing space in the adoption of the technology. It now expects first suppliers to install RFID systems between the 3Q 2004 & the 1Q 2005, followed by a mass roll-out. Initially, it plans to use RFID for 20-30% of its products. Without common standards for RFID tag readers and writers, tagging 100% of a product cannot be guaranteed, said Tesco's programme manager at a recent RFID Networking Forum Tesco urged its suppliers to take advantage of the delay to identify how to comply with the proposed electronic product code standard EPC global. In a separate project, Worldwide Fruit, who supply M&S, said the cost of RFID worked out at about £80K/factory, excluding costs for tagging trays, for which M&S were paying.
