Why Tesco is getting rid of barcodes on its sausages

Business & FinanceDigital
17 Apr 2026 • 4:34 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Why Tesco is getting rid of barcodes on its sausages

  • Tesco is replacing traditional barcodes with QR codes on 13 lines of its own-brand sausages, marking a UK supermarket first.
  • The initiative aims to provide customers with instant access to detailed product information, such as nutritional content, traceability, and recipes, via their smartphones.
  • For Tesco, the new QR codes will improve stock control, enable more accurate ordering, and significantly reduce food waste.
  • The technology will also enhance product recall processes by allowing specific batches to be identified and sales of affected items to be blocked at the till.
  • This move aligns with a broader industry push by GS1 for retailers to adopt next-generation barcodes, promising a more connected and transparent retail future.

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