Retail Solutions - M&S tagging trial kicks off in High Wycombe

Marks & Spencer has started a four-week trial to track clothing products individually with RFID tags.

The trial, which is being conducted in the High Wycombe store, will see 15,000 men's suits, shirts and ties tagged with the chips. The aim is to offer visibility in the supply chain and improve on-shelf availability.

The retailer is using ultra high-frequency tags, which means many items can be read in close proximity to each other. This makes them the most suitable variant for item-level tagging.

The trial has angered campaigners at the Consumers Against Supermarkets Privacy Invasion and Numbering (Caspian). However, M&S claims it has taken precautions to protect customers' privacy.