{"id":64775,"date":"2026-05-26T13:44:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T17:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=64775"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:51:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T19:51:29","slug":"new-research-reveals-grocery-industrys-agenda-behind-electronic-shelf-labels-as-poll-finds-americans-want-predatory-technology-banned-in-stores","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/new-research-reveals-grocery-industrys-agenda-behind-electronic-shelf-labels-as-poll-finds-americans-want-predatory-technology-banned-in-stores\/","title":{"rendered":"New Research Reveals Grocery Industry\u2019s Agenda Behind Electronic Shelf Labels, as Poll Finds Americans Want Predatory Technology Banned in Stores\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Research<\/u><\/em><\/a> exposes how corporate executives sell ESLs to the grocery industry: \u201cDrive price up in order to maximize margin\u201d<\/em>
65 percent worry that electronic shelf labels will cause grocery prices to increase; 67 percent support banning this technology and surveillance pricing in grocery stores, with strong support across party lines<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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POLLING MEMO AVAILABLE<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013<\/strong> Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union <\/strong>released a poll<\/u><\/a> from GBAO Strategies that shows overwhelming bipartisan support nationwide for banning surveillance pricing and electronic shelf labels (ESLs) in grocery stores. This comes as new research exposes how ESLs enable corporations to use AI and algorithms to set prices at a moment\u2019s notice based on shoppers\u2019 personal data, the weather, or a variety of factors. While grocers rush to outfit their stores with this equipment, lawmakers across the country are considering legislation to ban these price gouging technologies and practices in grocery stores. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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UFCW International Vice President Ademola Oyefeso <\/strong>said:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cElectronic shelf labels are a tool for price gouging Americans \u2013 full stop \u2013 and tech companies market it as such repeatedly. The ESL industry sells the prospect of higher prices and job losses as positives. Across the country, families are having to make tough choices in the grocery aisle every day as a result of sky-high prices, and polling clearly shows that they want these predatory technologies banned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cFederal and state lawmakers know these practices are wrong, and the UFCW urges them to get ahead of them before they appear in every store. Any lawmaker that is serious about cutting costs for hard-working families must support a ban on electronic shelf labels and surveillance pricing in grocery stores.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As part of UFCW\u2019s<\/u><\/a><\/strong> \u201cAffordable Groceries and Good Jobs Campaign<\/u><\/a><\/strong>,\u201d Congress and legislatures in 12 states have introduced bills to ban ESLs and surveillance pricing in grocery stores, with the New York State Senate leading the way by <\/strong>passing<\/u><\/a><\/strong> legislation earlier this month.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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New research<\/u><\/a> exposes how technology allows corporations to raise prices for consumers in real time and eliminate grocery industry jobs: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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