As part of our special six-week feature on Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL), International Supermarket News continues to follow how retailers across Europe are turning to digital shelf technology to improve efficiency and accuracy in stores. One of the latest names to move forward with this innovation is Mercadona, Spain’s leading supermarket chain.
A company spokesperson confirmed that Mercadona is preparing to launch a pilot trial using ESLs in five of its stores, including branches in Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona. The supermarket’s Director of Technology told International Supermarket News: “There is a cost involved, but in the long term we believe it will pay off. We can’t afford to ignore this technology. It’s easy to use, and our staff will need only basic training to work with it.”
This move puts Mercadona in line with global players like Walmart, which has announced plans to bring ESL technology to more than 2,000 stores in the United States by 2026. In high-volume stores, managing tens of thousands of paper price tags is labour-intensive. ESLs offer a smart solution. HIGHLIGHT’s HA180 is one of the standout products in this space—designed to update product prices and details in seconds, saving time and reducing human error.
The HA180 is already being used in other sectors too. Pharmacies use ESLs for quick updates on medicines and health products, where pricing accuracy is essential. Warehouses use them for stock levels, expiry dates, and tracking inventory. Showrooms also benefit from the technology by displaying product specs and promotions in high-visibility colours.
The HA180 comes with advanced features, including:
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A high-resolution 1.8-inch EPD screen
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Six pages for displaying product information
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Bluetooth LE 5.0 for fast communication
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Strong 128-bit AES data encryption
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A battery life of up to five years
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A wide viewing angle and temperature range for all environments
ESL adoption is growing fast. With Mercadona soon to begin its pilot, it’s clear that this technology is no longer just an option for the future—it’s becoming a key part of modern retail strategy.
Stay with International Supermarket News as we continue our feature series on ESL, speaking to retailers across Europe and beyond about how digital shelf labels are transforming the industry.