Tesco has become the first UK supermarket to replace traditional barcodes with QR codes across an entire product range, applying the new technology to 13 lines of its own-brand sausages. The move, which the retailer describes as one of the most revolutionary retailing improvements in decades, allows customers to scan the codes with their smartphones for instant access to product information such as nutritional content, recipes, and traceability.
The change affects products including Tesco Pork Sausages, Pork Chipolatas, British Pork Sausage Meat, British Cumberland Sausages, and British Lincolnshire Sausages. Tesco says the QR codes will improve stock control and reduce waste by enabling more accurate ordering and efficient product recalls, allowing specific batches to be identified rather than entire lines.
Peter Draper, Tesco's development and change director, said: 'For customers, this is a tiny and almost invisible change at the checkout, but for the retail industry it’s a significant step forward. Moving to QR codes will help us reduce food waste, improve stock control and unlock new digital benefits for our customers.'
The initiative aligns with a broader industry shift led by GS1, the global barcode standards body, which has set a target for retailers and manufacturers to adopt QR codes. Anne Godfrey, chief executive of GS1 UK, said: 'Tesco moving to QR codes powered by GS1 across an entire range marks a significant step forward for UK retail. It shows how the next generation of barcodes can support a more connected, transparent future.'
Tesco noted that the QR codes also enable retailers to block the sale of affected items at the till and contact customers who may have purchased recalled products, further reducing waste and improving availability.
