Modern Retail Podcast · with Jason Straczewski and Ademola Oyefeso · April 18, 2026 · 37 min
Summary
Digital price tags, while offering efficiency and accuracy benefits for retailers like Kroger and Walmart, are sparking a heated debate with consumer advocates and labor unions. This episode explores the legislative push to regulate their use due to concerns over potential job losses, "surveillance pricing" based on consumer data, and "algorithmic pricing" that could lead to unfair real-time price adjustments.
Key takeaways
Retailers are embracing electronic shelf labels for increased efficiency, accuracy, and faster in-store operations, saving staff time on manual price changes.
Labor unions and consumer advocates are actively lobbying for legislation to regulate digital price tags, citing concerns about job displacement and the potential for predatory pricing practices.
The debate highlights the tension between retailer's pursuit of efficiency gains through technology and concerns about consumer protection against "surveillance pricing" and "algorithmic pricing."
Existing laws regarding price gouging and consumer protection are being re-evaluated in the context of advanced pricing technologies, particularly with the rise of AI in retail pricing strategies.
Expect increased scrutiny and potential legislative action on dynamic pricing models and the use of AI in retail as digital price tags become more widespread.
Electronic shelf labels are nothing new. Lately, though, the topic has been making headlines as companies like Kroger and Walmart announce they'll be rolling out more of the technology across their stores. The small screens replace the paper stickers that store employees would have to replace by hand anytime there is a price change or stock change. But this is raising concerns among grocery store workers and consumer advocates about the potential for unfair price increases. In turn, the United Food and Commercial Workers union is making a legislative push across states and in Congress to regulate what companies can and can't do regarding in-store pricing. On this episode of the Modern Retail Podcast, special projects editor Melissa Daniels interviews lobbyists on both sides of the issue: Jason Straczewski, group vice president of government relations and political affairs at the National Retail Federation, and Ademola Oyefeso, UFCW International Vice President and Director of Legislative and Political Action. The interviews get into why electronic shelf labels can benefit retailers because of the efficiency they provide, including increased accuracy, saved staff time and faster in-store operations. But the UFCW has argued that the technology could cost workers their jobs. Beyond that, UFCW has also raised concerns about the unilateral ability for companies to change prices, which could open the door to "surveillance pricing," or when companies change prices based on the data they have around who is shopping. There are also concerns about "algorithmic pricing," or using automation to adjust prices in real-time. In the episode, we'll also hear about: The legislative push UFCW is making in states and where that stands. What existing laws already say about price gouging and consumer protection. How this fight opens the door to concerns around companies using AI to determine pricing.
What does this episode say about retail & omnichannel?
Retailers are embracing electronic shelf labels for increased efficiency, accuracy, and faster in-store operations, saving staff time on manual price changes.
What does this episode say about ai & automation?
Labor unions and consumer advocates are actively lobbying for legislation to regulate digital price tags, citing concerns about job displacement and the potential for predatory pricing practices.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
The debate highlights the tension between retailer's pursuit of efficiency gains through technology and concerns about consumer protection against "surveillance pricing" and "algorithmic pricing."
What does this episode say about retail & omnichannel?
Existing laws regarding price gouging and consumer protection are being re-evaluated in the context of advanced pricing technologies, particularly with the rise of AI in retail pricing strategies.
What does this episode say about retail & omnichannel?
Expect increased scrutiny and potential legislative action on dynamic pricing models and the use of AI in retail as digital price tags become more widespread.
