Sausages. It’s where a major change is taking place at the UK’s largest retailer, Tesco.
Today, the supermarket chain became the first UK grocer to transition a full product line from traditional barcodes to QR codes in a move that is expected to help drive transparency across its supply chain and provide greater product information for the business and its customers.
As reported on Green Retail World one year ago, Tesco started working with standards organisation GS1 UK in what was deemed the most significant barcode-to-QR-code replacement yet. The trial has been ongoing for circa two years.
But now the QR codes powered by GS1 have replaced traditional linear barcodes across the full Tesco own‑label core sausage range; they have been dual-coded for sometime, but are now QR code-only. It’s the first major transformation to barcodes since they were invented and commercialised in retail in the 1970s.
Retailers are now expected to manage far richer product information, from expiry dates and batch data to sourcing, sustainability, and regulatory requirements. And QR codes powered by GS1 have been identified by retailers, brands, and regulators as a way to meet those demands without disrupting existing systems.
Linked to GS1 identifiers such as Global Trade Item Numbers, these QR codes allow products to connect to trusted digital information that can be updated in real time, while still scanning at the checkout in familiar ways.
Anne Godfrey, CEO 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. We hope this progress encourages others to follow Tesco’s lead so that consumers and businesses alike can benefit from richer, more trusted product information.”
GS1 said it is also working with other retailers and manufacturers to support the shift to QR codes on packaging. The organisation acknowledged linear barcodes will continue to play an important role during the transition period, but Tesco’s move highlights how things can evolve in line with new requirements around product provenance and modern retail operations.
Food waste to animal feed
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Tesco announced that processing at its food waste partner RenEco’s new animal feed production facility in Northamptonshire has now started.
The site has been designed to manufacture animal feed using the supermarket’s surplus bakery and produce, helping it cut down on food waste from operations.
Tesco said any surplus will have been offered to its staff and charity partners first, but anything remaining will find its way to RenEco’s Chelveston facility.
Unlike other processing sites, the feed plant has been designed to handle packaged food delivered in supermarket cages, and can handle bulk volume and palletised materials.
On arrival at the animal feed plant all cages are weighed and automatically analysed for feed safety. The bakery and produce materials are then quality checked and mechanically de-packaged, with the material mixed to produce a formulated feed to the end farm’s specifications.
The intention is for that feed to be supplied to farmers in the Tesco supply chain.
The feed plant is located within the Chelveston Renewable Energy Park and is powered by 100% renewable power from wind and solar. The site can handle up to 1,000 tonnes of product a week, according to Tesco and RenEco.
[image credit: Green Retail World]
