The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) has thrown in with the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) in its push to delay, until January 2011, the removal of the Universal Product Code (UPC-A) barcode system – scheduled for January 1, 2010. Like the GMA, the NACDS is chiefly concerned about the impact of the 2010 date upon coupons and the implications of requiring the change during an economic downturn. Here’s the NACDS news release on the subject.
This, from the perspective of NACDS’ leadership, is the essence of the group’s position:
“In this tough economic environment, it is justifiable to temporarily postpone the implementation of the new GS1 DataBar technology,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “This mandated technology change – especially for those surrounding money-saving coupons – must be viewed through the lens of the economic reality faced by retailers and their valued customers.”
Filed under: GS1
