Restaurant chain uses RFID to track sushi

Blue C Sushi implemented radio frequency identification, or RFID, systems from Intermec and business-process technology from Microsoft to track its food and automatically calculate customers’ bills. The restaurants are based on the concept of kaiten sushi, where customers select plates of sushi from a rotating conveyor belt.

Intermec’s IF5 fixed-mount RFID readers and antennas, Microsoft’s RFID software and integrator Kikata’s Ebisu inventory-management software were installed to track food as it moves from the kitchen to customers. Intermec worked with 3M to create tags that adhere to the bottom of the plates and can withstand restaurant wear-and-tear, including dishwashing cycles with harsh detergents, according to the company.