Labor Think Tank Calls for Total Ban on Electronic Shelf Labels, Warning of Billions in Lost Wages and Rising Grocery Prices

By PYMNTS September 11, 2026 Main Facts The debate over the automation of the American retail landscape has taken a sharp, contentious turn. The AFL-CIO Tech Institute, a labor-affiliated think tank established in 2021, has officially petitioned lawmakers to implement a total ban on electronic shelf labels (ESLs) across grocery stores nationwide. According to a…

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Instacart Acquires Arpalus: A Strategic Leap Toward Real-Time Grocery Shelf Intelligence

By PYMNTS July 16, 2026 In a significant move to solidify its dominance in the digital grocery infrastructure, Instacart announced on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the acquisition of Arpalus, a specialist in computer vision and shelf intelligence technology. This acquisition marks another milestone in Instacart’s ongoing evolution from a simple delivery app into a comprehensive,…

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