SINGAPORE - SATO International Pte Ltd (SI), a holding company for SATO Corporation's overseas sales offices, today announced that SATO Corporation had been made Gold Partner by the world's fourth largest retail company, Germany's METRO Group. METRO Group is the largest retail company in Germany and the second largest in Europe.

METRO Group has an annual turnover of - 53.6billion and operates in more than 2,300 locations in 28 countries. SATO joins in the league of 16 other notable Gold Partners such as Microsoft, Philips, HP, Oracle and Symbol Technology. The METRO Group's current Platinum Partners include IBM, Intel and SAP, and it also has 24 other companies as its Silver Partners.

"SATO has been chosen as a Gold Partner by METRO Group because of our strong technological position in RFID (IC Tag) printers and consumables," said Mr. T Waki, Managing Director of SATO International. "In addition, SATO's track record and commitment of employing Automatic Identification Solutions to constantly improve business performances is in line with METRO Group's strategic direction. Most importantly, these solutions have been successfully developed and delivered through SATO's unique business module - the Data Collection System and Labelling (DCS & Labelling).

"This business module offers complete AIDC solutions by providing pre-planning consultation, on-site survey, pilot planning and implementation, and post-pilot consultation and customer service," he added. As a Gold Partner, SATO will be working with METRO Group, on projects involving the latest technological developments such as RFID, particularly IC Tags for the METRO Group Future Store Initiative.

SATO will contribute its AIDC expertise by setting standards for retailing that can be implemented on an international scale within the METRO Group Future Store Initiative as technologies and technical systems are tested and further developed in practice.

The METRO Group Future Store Initiative is the international retailer's technology-based vision of the 21st century grocery shopping experience and is a cooperation project between METRO Group, SAP, Intel and IBM as well as other partner companies from the information technology and consumer goods industries. Its objective is to promote innovations in retailing on a national and international level. The initiative aims to be a platform for technical and process-related developments and innovations in retailing. A formal signing ceremony will be held in Japan this July. Executives from the METRO Group will be visiting Japan for the signing ceremony, where a seminar will be held. Further details will be announced shortly.

About SATO International (SI)
SATO International (SI), the global sales headquarters of SATO Corporation, is a world leader of automatic identification products including barcode printers. SI was incorporated in 2001 to oversee and support sales, marketing and customer service activities at all group member companies. As part of its expansion plans, SI is rapidly strengthening its own team, as well as that of its overseas, group member companies. Also, SI will initiate new product launches, in addition to identifying and securing new strategic partnerships to expand its comprehensive AIDC business outside of Japan. SI is the driving force behind SATO Corporation's global branding strategy and expansion into new markets and territories. More details at www.satoworldwide.com