Tesco to ditch barcodes on certain products as UK supermarket giant hails ‘revolutionary' move
Tesco say the new codes can be used to provide additional product information to customers
www.independent.co.ukHere are the latest publicly reported updates on Tesco QR codes (as of April 2026):
Tesco has been rolling out on-pack QR codes on certain own-brand products, signaling a shift from traditional barcodes. This draw is framed as a UK-first in some coverage, with Tesco highlighting benefits for stock control, waste reduction, and richer product information for shoppers.[2][4]
The broader GS1-led initiative aims for a comprehensive QR code rollout by 2027, enabling batch-level recall capabilities and more granular data at checkout and in-store systems.[5][2]
Coverage across several outlets notes that Tesco began testing QR codes on select lines (notably sausages) and suggests possible wider adoption across more product categories in the near term.[4][6]
Industry reporting from late 2024 into 2025 suggested Tesco referred to the move as part of a “second barcode revolution,” with trials in multiple stores and on various product lines to assess benefits and rollout feasibility.[1][3]
There is some mixed coverage about the pace and scope of implementation, with a few outlets describing it as a major transformation, while others note ongoing pilots and potential future expansion pending GS1 standards adoption.[3][7]
If you’d like, I can pull the most current articles from specific outlets (e.g., The Guardian, BBC, Retail Week) or summarize the key benefits, drawbacks, and consumer implications of QR-coded packaging. I can also provide a simple timeline of Tesco’s QR-code rollout and map which product categories have been included so far.
Citations:
Tesco say the new codes can be used to provide additional product information to customers
www.independent.co.ukJoin GS1 UK and discover how GS1 barcodes, QR codes powered by GS1 and data standards can streamline your supply chain, boost efficiency and enhance visibility for your products
www.gs1uk.orgTesco is swapping barcodes for QR codes on a range of its own-brand products in a move the supermarket chain is describing as a UK "first".
www.coastfm.co.ukThe new on-pack QR codes not only offer the same scanning functionality at the checkout but also allow customers to instantly access detailed product information
www.mirror.co.ukTesco is introducing on-pack scannable QR codes in a bid to give shoppers detailed product information instantly, in what is being dubbed the "second barcode revolution".
www.grocerygazette.co.ukTesco has dumped the QR code in it's latest campaign to get customers using their mobiles to shop. The supermarket giant has been notably active in the way it appeals to smartphone users in its supermarkets, and its latest idea takes the concept of m-commerce to a wider audience. It has put a virtual store into Gatwick Airport to allow shoppers to buy a basketful of groceries while killing time in the departure lounge.
canarydwarf.co.ukThe change will see QR codes applied to the packaging of 13 lines of Tesco’s own-brand sausages following a trial.
news.stv.tvTesco is considering ditching producing barcodes to replace with QR code technology in its latest digital innovation.
www.grocerygazette.co.ukAs part of an expanded pilot, Tesco is now trialling the next […]
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