Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. Sponsors In-Store Industry Forum at Food Marketing Institute -FMI- MARKETECHNICS '99 Show.

NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 1999--

--Procter & Gamble, Symbol Technologies Inc. and SASI 

among key industry presenters--

Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. (ERS) (NASDAQ: ERSI) today announced that the company is sponsoring an in-store industry forum at the FMI MARKETECHNICS '99 trade show that opens today, February 26 through February 28, 1999 in New Orleans, LA. At the ERS booth, industry experts will discuss key in-store retail applications such as strategic pricing, planogram compliance, in-aisle productivity and relationship marketing and how Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) can bring increased value to each of these applications. The companies participating in this industry forum include Procter & Gamble, Symbol Technologies Inc., Stores Automated Systems, Inc. (SASI), S4, KhiMetrics, MGV and Comtec.

"The number one problem facing retailers today is labor - labor availability and cost - which prevents retailers from executing their programs at the store level. Although retailers have increased their investment of in-store technology over the last few years, the missing element has been the ability to execute at the shelf edge," said Bruce F. Failing, Jr., Chief Executive Officer for ERS. "We are providing this forum to help increase retailers' awareness of the value ESLs bring to their operations, especially in tight labor situations."

Visitors to the ERS booth will be able to learn from leading technology and marketing company partners how to maximize the value of existing in-store applications with ESLs. Speakers will discuss how these in-store applications in combination with ESLs could generate increased profits for retailers in excess of 1% of sales, which could mean potential benefits of $95,000 to $295,000 per store for most retailers on an annual basis.

For more information about the ERS-sponsored industry forum at Booth No. 1319 at MARKETECHNICS `99, please call ERS at 1.888.ERS.INTL. MARKETECHNICS '99 is an annual trade show sponsored by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). This year's MARKETECHNICS '99 is being held in New Orleans, LA from February 26 - 28, 1999.

ERS is a leading developer and supplier of electronic shelf labeling systems designed to improve retailer profitability. The ERS ShelfNet(R) system is designed to assist retailers in cost savings and pricing accuracy by using a wireless network to link a store's central computer both to its check-out scanner and to the ESLs that display pricing information at the shelf edge. With ShelfNet, this pricing information is updated automatically on the ESLs when prices in the point-of-sale (POS) scanner are changed. This provides price integrity between the shelf edge and the POS scanners. ShelfNet uses spread spectrum RF technology, which is the most widely used method of wireless communication in retail today. In addition, ShelfNet uses a suite of patented software applications designed to communicate merchandising, inventory and other information to and from store personnel in the aisle. These applications are designed to provide value-added benefits to retailers in the areas of shelf-edge merchandising, replenishment control, strategic pricing and shelf set compliance.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. ERS' actual results may vary from those anticipated due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the timely availability and acceptance of new products, the rate of development of the emerging market for electronic shelf label systems, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the management of growth, and other factors set forth in reports and other documents filed by ERS with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.