Coding, Printing & Labeling

ARC study: ROI for RFID is lacking

For a study released in November, the ARC Advisory Group talked to 24 companies that were actively investing in EPC (Electronic Product Code) RFID. The study includes best practices.

December 31, 2004

Meat/Poultry/Seafood: Page 57

Labels

Conductive Inks: RFID's silver lining?

If RFID is going to make it to the item level, package printers are likely to play a leading role.

December 31, 2004

Coding, Printing & Labeling

The Packaging Pushback Club

Who knows what excuses slow RFID acceptance and implementation? RFID authority John Greaves of Deloitte Consulting does, and identifies these maligned scapegoats.

December 31, 2004

Coding, Printing & Labeling

RFID one-on-one with Kevin Ashton Part 1

RFID Antenna exclusive: RFID authority Kevin Ashton, co-founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Auto-ID Center and now vice president of marketing with RFID reader vendor ThingMagic, provides insights and observations in this exclusive interview conducted in December. Part 2 concludes next month.

December 31, 2004

Meat/Poultry/Seafood

The wrap-up: Spam® hits Broadway

The ‘beloved’ product that’s spoofed in a new Broadway musical sparks a line extension, giving Hormel the last laugh.

December 31, 2004

Bakery/Snack

Packaging labels contain errors

According to a recent study, consumers are either getting ripped off or eating free food when they buy certain products.

December 31, 2004

Flexibles

Custom-shaped retort plastic baby food cups

Babies in France have a new food packaging option courtesy of Nestlé France’s Coeur de Saveur baby food brand and customized, high-barrier, retortable, microwaveable plastic cups manufactured by EDV Packaging Group.

December 31, 2004

Meat/Poultry/Seafood

Wal-Mart Supercenters are 'case-ready'

Bentonville, AR, retailer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., sells prepackaged, case-ready meats in more than 1귔 Supercenters nationwide. Spokeswoman Karen Burk addresses the growth of case-ready meats at Wal-Mart.

December 31, 2004

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Data synch or sink

How important is data synchronization to your radio-frequency identification program?

December 31, 2004

Bakery/Snack

Health claim for olive oil

Olive oil joins walnuts and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon and tuna in winning FDA approval of a qualified health claim. Olive oil and certain foods containing olive oil may include the following claim on their packaging:“Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 2 tablespoons (23 g) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil.

December 31, 2004

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Sobeys' EAS tags thwart thieves

Canadian supermarket chain uses electronic article surveillance on a variety of packages—including fresh meats—to minimize shoplifting.

December 31, 2004

Flexible packaging

Club stores stay 'hot' with packaging a key to sales

Recent developments focus on the effective use of display pallets and new ways of reining in costs. It’s a singular outlook on “shelf impact.”

December 31, 2004

Flexibles

Flexibles outlook is optimistic

FPA expects sales revenue for 2004 flexible packaging shipments to increase 4.7% to about $21.4 billion, with rosier three- to five-year converter expectations.

December 31, 2004