Scan-do attitude
GS1 UK elaborates on its QR code solution, which is perfectly placed to power the next generation of on-pack labelling. From consumers and regulators to brand owners and retailers, everyone wants to know more about products they buy, sell or consume. As space on-pack is finite, there will always be a limit to the amount of information physical labels can carry and, with 94% of consumers now owning a smartphone, there is a growing expectation around accessibility. Today, people need better ways of accessing this detail. Combining two of the most important inventions of the 20th century, the internet and the barcode, QR codes powered by GS1 are the solution to this challenge, allowing businesses of all sizes to not only meet the data demands of today, but also those of tomorrow. Since its first scan, the linear barcode has powered global commerce, transforming the way we work and live. GS1 barcodes are now scanned more than ten billion times a day but, while they have delivered countless benefits to consumers and businesses alike, the vital information they carry is typically accessible only to those within industry. QR codes on the other hand are typically used to connect consumers to a web page.
QR codes powered by GS1 can fulfil both these functions and more, offering infinite possibilities through one simple scan. They enable a wide range of enhanced consumer experiences and improved business operations, by carrying and enabling access to more information, while still having the ability to go ‘beep’ at the till. The following two brands – Little Bobby Jebb and Sistr Coffee – are examples of how GS1 UK members are harnessing the power of these nextgeneration barcodes. Little Bobby Jebb: promoting animal welfare and sustainability The first of its kind, Little Bobby Jebb’s high-protein, low-carb Original Chicken Crackling and Crumb is made from the highest quality, UK-reared Red Tractor Chicken. As a farmer’s son, founder Robert Jebb has always been passionate about food and where it comes from, so was keen to ensure that animal welfare and sustainability were at the heart of his brand. He also wanted customers to have full access to the product information he often sought out himself, so he approached GS1 UK.
With the only commercial scale product of its kind in the UK, perhaps the world, Robert wanted to create premium products from a single sustainable, all-British raw ingredient and promote the ‘nose-to-tail’ ethos that the world needs to embrace. Chicken Crackling is lighter than traditional pork scratchings. It is high in protein and low in fat, contains no artificial colourings, flavourings, preservatives or MSG, and can be gluten free and halal. It is also made with 100% British ingredients, while the majority of pork scratchings come from Danish pigs. It is also much more sustainable, turning one, single raw product that is often discarded, into several variations. Little Bobby Jebb generates its own unique chicken oil during the cooking process, which they are now developing into a further range of retail and catering products. At the end of its life, any leftover oil is recycled into Biofuels. With a story to tell across a range of five products, most frequently sold in 40g bags, packaging space was at a premium. To ensure consumers had
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25/04/2024 17:14