UK supermarket chain Tesco has begun replacing traditional barcodes with QR codes on its own-brand sausages, a move first reported by Google News. The initiative aims to provide customers with more detailed product information, including sourcing, ingredients, and storage instructions, while also improving supply chain traceability.
Anthony Blears, Director of Barcodes Philippines, said: 'The shift to 2D barcodes will transform retail, but adoption in the Philippines is likely to be slower than some forecasts because retailers and manufacturers must upgrade POS, ERP, production-line printing, inspection, and data workflows.' Barcodes Philippines provides free IBN Link access for its customers to generate GS1 Digital Link 2D barcode landing pages from their GTINs.
The switch from one-dimensional (1D) barcodes to two-dimensional (2D) QR codes is part of a broader retail industry shift toward GS1 Digital Link standards, which enable retailers to embed more data—such as batch numbers and expiry dates—into a single scannable code. This transition allows consumers to access real-time product details via smartphone, enhancing transparency and food safety.
Tesco's pilot on sausages is expected to expand to other product categories if successful. The retailer has not disclosed a timeline for full rollout but noted that the change will not affect pricing or packaging design beyond the new code. The move reflects growing industry momentum to modernize retail labeling as consumers demand greater visibility into product origins and supply chains.