GS1 US marks the 50th ‘Scanniversary' of the bar code

Nonprofit information standards organization GS1 US is celebrating the first bar code scan’s “Scanniversary” on June 26, 1974.

GS1 US, the administrator of the UPC bar codes, says the first bar code scan took place in Troy, Ohio, at Marsh Supermarket. The product scanned was a 10-pack Wrigley’s chewing gum with a UPC, according to a news release.

“I started out in the supermarket business as a part-time courtesy clerk the year the bar code was introduced and saw first-hand how it improved store efficiency and enhanced the customer experience,” said Mike Stigers, president of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative with supermarket banners that include ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, the Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market. “It’s so exciting to mark 50 years of progress with the ‘Scanniversary’ and, as a GS1 US board member, help guide the industry’s transition to 2D bar codes. The potential to provide so much important product information will continue to help retailers, manufacturers and consumers.”

GS1 US says UPC bar codes are scanned more than 10 billion times daily and are used to identify more than 1 billion products.

GS1 US says UPC bar codes aided price lookup at POS, and it foresees new two-dimensional bar codes like QR codes as the future, with the ability to provide consumers with detailed product information. A 2024 GS1 US consumer survey showed that 77% of consumers believe that product information is important when making a purchase, and 79% of shoppers are more likely to purchase products with a scannable bar code or QR code (via smartphone) that provides the information they want, the release said.

“Food safety risks exist throughout the supply chain, especially in fresh food. Product and location identification is critical to see where an item has been and where it is going … these are crucial elements to support food safety,” said Melanie Nuce-Hilton, senior vice president of community engagement at GS1 US. “Bar codes make it possible to capture pertinent information in a machine-readable format to gain visibility into a product’s journey in the supply chain. With 2D bar codes emerging and set to scan at retail by 2027, brands can include even more data in a bar code-like batch/lot code that can increase visibility into the supply chain and help prevent things like recalled product from leaving a store.”

The standards organization said globally brands are beginning the transition from UPCs to 2D bar codes or QR codes on product packaging, with retailers setting a target date to accept them at checkout by 2027.

“The shift to 2D bar codes will be key to educating consumers in store as they consider products that best meet the needs of their families,” said Dave Bornmann, Publix senior vice president, product business development. “Industry coming together to make this transition while following bar code placement standards will be the gateway to information our shoppers increasingly want at the point of decision.”

GS1 US founded an initiative called Sunrise 2027 to help retailers, distributors and more transition to the new 2D bar codes. The new bar codes will offer rich product data that shopper can access with a smartphone scan, retail inventory management, visibility and traceability, according to the release.

“In addition to the shopper engagement opportunities that 2D bar codes provide, these data-rich QR codes will also better support our inventory management operations so that we can keep our shelves stocked with the products our customers want most,” said Dave DeLaus, senior vice president and chief information officer, Wegmans Food Markets Inc. “As an early adopter, we’re prioritizing this industry transition and are pressure-testing our capabilities to ensure readiness.”