Tesco Trials Next-Generation QR Codes In Move Away From Traditional Barcodes

Tesco has become the first UK supermarket to trial replacing traditional product barcodes with next-generation QR codes, signalling a potential shift in how groceries are labelled, tracked and scanned in stores.

The retailer is currently testing the new system on a limited number of own-brand lines, including fresh produce and meat, in selected stores in the south of England. The pilot forms part of a collaboration with standards body GS1 UK and a group of supplier partners.

Under the trial, QR codes are being used in place of conventional barcodes on packaging. Unlike standard barcodes — which simply identify a product at the checkout — the QR codes can carry far more information and connect to digital data across the supply chain.

The initiative is designed to help Tesco capture more detailed product information, including use-by dates and batch numbers, while also improving traceability and helping reduce the risk of out-of-date items being sold.

Tesco believes the technology could also unlock a richer experience for shoppers. By scanning the code with a smartphone, customers could potentially access additional product information such as nutritional data, origin, sustainability credentials and recycling guidance.

Isabela De Pedro, Tesco’s supply chain development and change director, said the technology allows retailers to connect physical products with digital information in ways that traditional packaging cannot.

She said the retailer was already seeing benefits from linking products to “dynamic digital information”, adding that the technology could support improvements in traceability, compliance and customer communication.

The move forms part of a wider industry shift towards what GS1 calls the “next generation of barcodes”, where QR codes and other digital identifiers could eventually replace the standard barcodes that have dominated retail for more than 50 years.

If the trial proves successful, the technology could be rolled out more widely across Tesco’s product range in the future, potentially replacing hundreds of conventional barcodes and transforming how retailers manage product information across the supply chain.

For the fresh produce sector in particular, the development could open the door to improved traceability, enhanced consumer transparency and more accurate management of shelf-life data — areas that remain critical for reducing waste and strengthening supply chain visibility.