FOOD PRODUCT SCALE AND RELATED PROMOTIONAL SYSTEM AND METHOD

1 . A method for selectively producing either a combined product pricing and incentive label or an incentive-free product pricing label in a retail store, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a food product scale system within the retail store, the food product scale system having an associated label printer with a label supply, where the label supply is comprised of a continuous label stock having a series of laterally extending weakening lines spaced apart to define multiple label segments of common size;

identifying an item to be weighed and priced;

based upon identity of the item to be weighed and priced, determining whether an incentive is to be printed for the item, and:

if a determination is made that an incentive is to be printed for the item:

the label scale system printer prints a combined product pricing and incentive label in which product pricing information is printed on a first label segment of the label supply and incentive information is printed on a second label segment of the label supply;

the combined product pricing and incentive label is separated as a multi-segment label from the label supply at a weakening line and applied to the weighed item;

if a determination is made that an incentive is not to be printed for the item:

the label scale system printer prints an incentive-free product pricing label in which product pricing information is printed on a single label segment of the label supply;

the product pricing label is separated as a single-segment label from the label supply at a weakening line and applied to the weighed item.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein, if a determination is made that an incentive is to be printed for the item:

the label scale system printer prints the combined product pricing and incentive label incentive information printed on both the second label segment and a third label segment of the label supply;

the third label segment is folded under the second label segment and adhered thereto such that the third label segment faces downward against the item when the multi-segment label is applied to the item.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the third label segment includes a coupon bar code printed thereon and the coupon bar code faces downward against the item.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the label supply further includes a position synchronization element associated with each label segment.

5 . A food product scale for selectively producing either a combined product pricing and incentive label or an incentive-free product pricing label, the scale comprising:

a weighing device;

an input device;

a printer with an associated label supply, where the label supply is comprised of a continuous label stock having a series of laterally extending weakening lines spaced apart to define multiple label segments of common size;

a controller connected with the weighing device, input device and the printer, the controller operating to:

identify an item to be weighed and priced based upon signals from the input device;

based upon identity of the item to be weighed and priced, determine whether an incentive is to be printed for the item, and:

if a determination is made that an incentive is to be printed for the item:

cause the printer to print and output a combined product pricing and incentive label in which product pricing information is printed on a first label segment of the label supply and incentive information is printed on a second label segment of the label supply;

if a determination is made that an incentive is not to be printed for the item:

cause the printer to print and output an incentive-free product pricing label in which product pricing information is printed on a single label segment of the label supply.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the label supply further includes a position synchronization element associated with each label segment.

7 . A method for selectively producing product labels in different lengths, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a printer system having an associated label supply, where the label supply is comprised of a continuous label stock having a series of laterally extending weakening lines spaced apart to define multiple label segments of common size;

identifying an item for which a label is to be printed;

based upon identity of the item, determining an integer number N of label segments on which to print, where N is 1 or more; and

the label scale system printer prints and outputs a label having N label segments, where information is printed on each of the N label segments.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the label supply further includes a position synchronization element associated with each label segment.