GS1 UK launches self-serve tool to accelerate QR code adoption

The rollout follows Tesco’s recent move to replace traditional barcodes with GS1-powered QR codes across its own-brand sausage range. While the consumer checkout experience remains unchanged, the shift allows shoppers to access detailed product information via their smartphones. According to Peter Draper, Tesco’s development and change director, this transition serves a dual purpose: improving internal stock control and inventory management while providing customers with personalized tools to manage food waste at home.

Anne Godfrey, CEO at GS1 UK, emphasized that the technology builds upon the standardized foundations that have defined retail for decades. By simplifying the adoption process, the organization hopes to accelerate the industry’s shift toward a more connected, data-driven ecosystem. As retail media investments continue to grow among industry leaders, this tool provides smaller enterprises the infrastructure necessary to compete without the need for prohibitive technical barriers.