Tesco has made a significant shift from barcodes to QR codes for a variety of its own-brand products. This change involves using QR codes on 13 different products, including Tesco Pork Sausages, Tesco Pork Chipolatas, Tesco British Pork Sausage Meat, British Cumberland Sausages, and British Lincolnshire Sausages.
The transition to QR codes offers several advantages over traditional barcodes. QR codes can store more data, such as recipes, nutritional details, allergen information, and recycling instructions. Additionally, they can be scanned from any angle using smartphones, providing added convenience for customers.
The supermarket initially tested QR codes on select fresh produce items last year as part of a broader industry movement led by GS1, the global organization responsible for barcode standards.
By incorporating QR codes, Tesco aims to enhance its product information management in stores, leading to more accurate ordering and reduced waste. These codes will also enable retailers to pinpoint specific product batches in the event of a recall without the need to remove all items.
Peter Draper, Tesco’s development and change director, emphasized the positive impact of QR codes on reducing food waste, improving stock control, and offering new digital benefits to customers. This technological shift will provide customers with enhanced product information through their smartphones, potentially leading to personalized digital tools for better food management and waste reduction at home.
Anne Godfrey, the chief executive of GS1 UK, applauded Tesco’s adoption of QR codes across its product range as a significant advancement for the UK retail sector. She highlighted how this move towards next-generation barcodes supports a more connected and transparent future, encouraging other businesses to follow suit for the benefit of consumers and industry stakeholders.
According to Ms. Godfrey, nearly half of British retailers have already updated their checkout systems to accommodate QR codes, with brands like L’Oreal, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble also integrating them into their products. She envisions a future where every product will feature a QR code containing comprehensive information, catering to the evolving demands of modern consumers beyond basic price scanning capabilities.
