Co-op ‘taps’ into new electronic shelf labels tech to make becoming a member in store even easier

22 August 2025

Changes are in store, as Co-op ‘taps’ into its innovative new Electronic Shelf Edge Labels technology to make becoming a member and accessing member benefits and price savings in store even easier for shoppers.

The convenience retailer is committed to creating value for its members and customers, and its new electronic shelf labels in-store now invite shoppers to ‘tap to join’, and become a member of Co-op, quickly and easily.

(IMAGE: Innovative new Electronic Shelf Edge Labels at Co-op now invite shoppers to 'tap to join' and become a Co-op member quickly and easily via their mobile phone).

Membership unlocks additional value for Co-op customers, with personalised offers and lower prices on the products shoppers buy most. The Innovative Near Field Communication (NFC) technology utilised on the electronic shelf edge label directs the shopper to Co-op’s membership webpage via their own mobile phone (when they tap the label with their phone) where they can simply sign-up and start to save on a wide range of everyday essentials.

Co-op confirmed earlier this year that it had partnered with VusionGroup to replace paper shelf edge labels in store with the new electronic shelf edge labels, a move designed to improve the customer shopping experience, enhance the transparency of product information (such as allergen and nutritional information or country of origin), improve inventory management and cut paper waste associated with traditional shelf labels. Electronic shelf edge labels can also simplify everyday store tasks including stock replenishment and picking online grocery orders.

The labels can also instantly communicate the latest Co-op price savings, deals and savings.

Working with VusionGroup the electronic labels are now seen in over 700 Co-op stores, they are expected to be rolled-out to more than 1600 of the convenience retailer’s stores by the year end, and in all (more than 2,300) of its stores during 2026 - the UK's widest rollout of this technology.

David Tyas, Co-op’s Operations Innovation Lead, said: “Co-op is committed to continually exploring innovative technology that can improve how we operate - with ease, convenience and the customer experience at the heart of everything we do. The electronic labels not only have the potential to enhance product information and transparency, avoid paper waste, and improve ways of working, they can also enhance the shopping experience and make it easier for customers to become a Co-op member and start to benefit from member price savings, promotions and deals, and save on a wide range of everyday essentials.”

Roy Horgan, CEO UK & Ireland, VusionGroup, said: "We are proud to be partnering with the Co-op to give UK customers access to the benefits of electronic shelf labels and technology for the physical store. Co-op’s innovative use of NFC tags to seamlessly link customers to the benefits of membership directly from the shelf is just one demonstration of how this technology can transform the retail experience. With other applications across the supply chain and customer journey - for customers and associates - this rollout is an important step in what we expect will be a broader industry transformation."

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operatives, with its history dating back more than 180 years. Co-op’s 6.5m members own the business and also play an intrinsic part in the governance of the organisation - Co-op exists to create value for its membership and communities.

More information about the benefits of Co-op Membership is available by visiting coop.co.uk/membership

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About Co-op

Co-op Group is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, operating across food retail, funerals, insurance, and legal services. Owned by over 6 million active member-owners, Co-op exists to meet their needs and champion the causes they care about. With more than 2,300 food stores, 800 funeral homes and a wholesale business supplying around 6,000 additional outlets, Co-op employs 54,000 colleagues and generates annual revenues of over £11 billion. It is a recognised leader in ethical business and community-led programmes, creating long-term value for members and communities across the UK.

Shop.coop.co.uk

About VusionGroup

VusionGroup is the global leader in the digitalization solutions for commerce, serving over 350 large retailer groups around the world in Europe, Asia and North America.

The Group develops technologies that create a positive impact on society by enabling sustainable and human-centered commerce. By leveraging our IoT & Data technologies, we empower retailers to re-imagine their physical stores into efficient, intelligent, connected, and data-driven assets. We unlock higher economic performance, facilitate seamless collaboration across the value chain, enhance the shopping experience, create better jobs, cultivate healthier communities, and significantly reduce waste and carbon emissions.

VusionGroup consist of six families of solutions, harnessing the full potential of IoT, Cloud, Data, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, at the service of the modernization of commerce: SESimagotag (ESL & Digital Shelf Systems), VusionCloud, Captana (computer vision and artificial intelligence platform), Memory (data analytics), Engage (retail media and in-store advertising), and PDidigital (logistics and industrial solutions).

VusionGroup supports the United Nations’ Global Compact initiative and has received in 2023 the Platinum Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis, the world’s reference of business sustainability ratings.

VusionGroup is listed in compartment A of Euronext™ Paris and member of the SBF120 Index. Ticker: VU – ISIN code: FR0010282822 – Reuters: VU.PA – Bloomberg: VU.FP

www.vusion.com

Further information:

Andrew Torr
Lead Press Officer, Co-op Group
Co-op Press Office
M: 07702505551
E: andrew.torr@coop.co.uk

pressoffice@coop.co.uk

Further information VusionGroup:

Investor Relations (VusionGroup): Olivier Gernandt – olivier.gernandt@vusion.com

Press Contacts (VusionGroup):

France: Publicis Consultants – vusiongroup@publicisconsultants.com
UK: Apella Advisors – vusion@apellaadvisors.com