METRO Group and Checkpoint Systems Expand RFID 'Tag It Easy!' Program

METRO Group and Checkpoint Systems Expand RFID 'Tag It Easy!' Program

November 09, 2007

    HONG KONG, Nov. 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Checkpoint
Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CKP), a leading supplier of technology
solutions for retail security, today announced its
participation in the upcoming expansion of METRO Group's
"Tag It Easy!" pilot program. The second phase of
the pilot will enable additional 70 consumer goods suppliers
in China and Vietnam to apply RFID labels on shipments to
METRO Group's facilities in Germany. The company held a
kick-off event for suppliers today in Hong Kong.

    (Logo: http://www.xprn.com/xprn/sa/200701241626.jpg )

    "Tag It Easy!" is part of METRO Group's
Advanced Logistics Asia (ALA) initiative to jointly enhance
logistics processes with its Asian suppliers using Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) to track merchandise
throughout the supply chain. Because many suppliers in the
region have limited technology capabilities, METRO Group
developed the "Tag It Easy!" pilot to assist them
with utilizing RFID within their operations. Through its
partnership with Checkpoint Systems, METRO Group is able to
provide pre-printed RFID labels to suppliers in the region
so that they can initiate the tracking process with only a
minimal technology investment.

    "Our Tag It Easy! RFID solution is a breakthrough,
showing how integrated RFID solutions benefit both suppliers
and retailer" says Dr. Gerd Wolfram, Managing Director
of MGI METRO Group Information Technology.
						
    For the pilot, METRO Group selected established
suppliers that had worked closely with the company in the
past. Suppliers were chosen based on their geographic
location and the type of products they manufactured, in
order to ensure a diverse product mix.

    The RFID labels provided by Checkpoint store the Serial
Shipping Container Code (SSCC), which is read at several
points along the supply chain between Hong Kong and Unna,
Germany. METRO Group receives an electronic advance
shipping notice detailing the contents of each shipment,
and the suppliers receive automatic proof-of-delivery
notifications. Suppliers order the RFID labels through the
company's global supplier portal Metro Link.

    By using RFID to provide real-time visibility, METRO
Group is able to eliminate manual counting and checking of
export packages. With a more efficient supply chain, the
company can reduce out-of-stock situations at the retail
store, which improves the customer shopping experience.
Suppliers benefit through enhanced proof-of-delivery
information and more accurate shipping data, and are also
able to position themselves as reliable business partners
in the highly competitive consumer goods market.

    METRO Group has standardized on UHF EPC Gen 2 tags for
this project, and so far has reported read rates well
meeting METRO Group's expectation in the early stages of
the pilot.

    The first phase of the project, which was launched in
May, included 30 Chinese suppliers. Phase 2 will be
launched in early November, with the first tagged shipments
expected in December. METRO Group will conduct a three-month
evaluation to explore other opportunities for improvement. 

    "METRO Group continues to be a leader in the
adoption of RFID technology in the supply chain," said
George Off, CEO and chairman of the board of Checkpoint
Systems. "The success of the `Tag It Easy!' program,
and this current expansion, are a testament both to METRO
Group's commitment to the technology, and to the
effectiveness of RFID for enhancing supply chain visibility
and improving customer service.  We look forward to
partnering with METRO Group as their RFID initiatives
continue to evolve to other areas of their supply
chain."

    About The METRO Group

    METRO Group is one of the most important international
retailing companies. In 2006 the group reached sales of
about ? 60 billion. The company has a headcount of some
270,000 employees and operates about 2,400 outlets in 30
countries. The operating business is performed by the sales
brands which operate independently in the market:
Metro/Makro Cash & Carry -- world market leader in cash
& carry wholesale, Real hypermarkets and Extra
supermarkets, Media Markt and Saturn -- market leader in
consumer electronics centers in Europe, and Galeria Kaufhof
department stores. More information at:
http://www.metrogroup.de .

    About Checkpoint Systems Inc.
 
    Checkpoint Systems, Inc. is the leading supplier of
retail shrink management solutions. Checkpoint's global
team helps retailers -- and their suppliers -- reduce
theft, increase inventory visibility and provide consumers
with greater merchandise availability through the company's
rapidly evolving RF technology, expanding shrink management
offerings and Check-Net labeling solutions. Checkpoint has
more than one million RF devices installed in stores today
and has secured more than 100 billion products. Scaling
cost efficiently, Checkpoint's solutions provide increased
revenues and profits to a fast-growing community of
successful retailers and a superior experience for their
consumers. Listed on the NYSE (NYSE: CKP), Checkpoint
operates in every geographic market and employs 3,200
people worldwide. For more information, visit
http://www.checkpointasiapac.com .


    For more information, please contact:

     Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
     Asia Pacific
     Natalie Chan
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]
     Web:   http://www.checkpointasiapac.com