Many of us are on a constant search for new technology. At its best, technology can make our lives easier and, when properly used, it can even save us money. People are willing to endure the longest lines and the busiest press conferences for a glimpse of the latest iSomething. However, for residents of Puerto Rico, a trip to the local supermarket is all it takes to be surrounded by tech goodies.

Ralph’s Food Warehouse started in the clothing industry. The founder, Rafael Soto, decided to expand his business in 1993 by purchasing surrounding real estate—which happened to include a supermarket. The plan was to repurpose the space into a rental property, but Rafael was told if he wanted to buy the supermarket, he would get everything in it from boxes of Twinkies® to Carlos, the cashier. Since that first supermarket 19 years ago, Ralph’s has expanded to 12 stores sprinkled throughout the 3500-square-mile island.

In 2010, José Soto, vice president of Ralph’s and son of its founder, saw a need for store-wide technology upgrades. Hoping an influx of cutting-edge equipment would improve his already solid bottom line, José contacted José Vazquez at Multi-Business Systems (MBS). Vazquez, who specialized in point-of-sale equipment, was thinking about entering the scale industry. “We already had MBS’ system for the cashiers,” José Soto explains. “I told José Vazquez we need to get rid of our current scales.The main reason was service.”

Puerto Rico has no shortage of supermarkets and there are countless alternatives to Ralph’s, but they have separated themselves from the competition with a universal formula for success: QUALITY.

When new stores are not being built, Ralph’s existing stores undergo regular upgrades to keep the building modern and cost effective. That includes the latest in supermarket technology such as LED case lighting, electronic case valves, automated light-dimming systems, and a glycol loop that connects the cases to a fluid cooler. The stores also use the compressor’s heat to warm the water they use in the meat department. Ishida’s Uni-5 and Uni-7 contribute by utilizing dual-range weighing, which increases the accuracy of tare weights so potential revenue is not lost on food containers. Most retail scales weigh by 0.01 pounds, but the Uni-5 and Uni-7 have an additional range from 0-15 pounds where they weigh by a strikingly precise 0.005 pounds. This additional range captures otherwise lost pennies per transaction, which can add up to big money—especially for stores as busy as Ralph’s.

Because Ralph’s Food Warehouse appeals to a wide variety of clients, it is packed with more than just fresh meat and delicious produce. People flood the aisles, checkout lines, and especially the meat department, where in-house butchers work hard to keep the shelves stocked. Due to the high volume and emphasis on product appearance, three Ishida® WM-Nano tabletop wrappers and seven Ishida® fully automatic wrappers are used to wrap and label the products. José Soto explains why so many customers come to Ralph’s, “Other major chains process meat and package it somewhere else, then ship it to each store. By the time it hits the shelf, it is a few days old. We provide a fresh product that is cut and machine-packaged in the store every day.”

Ralph’s Food Warehouse has a constant stream of meat and deli customers. This high volume demands scales that can withstand the ultimate durability test. Rice Lake Retail delivered products that endure seemingly constant operation.

The future for Ralph’s is exciting. As they enjoy tremendous success and continue to expand, MBS implements every tool of technology to improve Ralph’s customer experience and the store’s effi ciency. From clothing store to Puerto Rican retail superpower, it has been quite a transformation for the Soto family business. “I’m glad we don’t sell clothes anymore,” José Soto laughs. “And I’m glad we found Rice Lake and Ishida that day at FMI.”