# UK Supermarkets Lead the Charge: The Traditional Barcode Is Being Replaced by 2D QR Codes
> Major UK supermarkets including Tesco are phasing out traditional 1D barcodes in favour of dynamic 2D QR codes — marking the biggest shift in retail packaging in decades.

Category: News
Author: SmartLinks
Published: 2026-03-27
Tags: QR Codes, Retail, Smart Packaging, Tesco, GS1, 2D Barcodes, Digital Product Passports
Canonical URL: https://www.smartlinks.app/blog/uk-supermarkets-barcode-replaced-2d-qr-codes
Featured image: https://pzauynhxbjdyyffythir.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/uk-supermarkets-qr-codes-hero.jpg
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Tesco has become the first major UK supermarket to replace traditional 1D barcodes on food items with dynamic 2D QR codes — marking the beginning of the end for the barcode as we know it.

The news, reported by both [Metro](https://metro.co.uk) and [The Telegraph](https://telegraph.co.uk), confirms what the industry has long anticipated: the migration to GS1-compliant 2D barcodes is no longer a distant prospect. It is happening now, and the timeline has rapidly accelerated.

## The Biggest Shift in Retail Packaging in Decades

The traditional 1D barcode has been a fixture of retail for over 50 years — doing one job: encoding a product identifier for checkout scanners. A 2D QR code can do infinitely more. It can carry dynamic links to product information, provenance data, sustainability credentials, and rich consumer experiences — all from a single scan.

Major UK supermarkets are now actively phasing out the legacy format. This is not a trial. It is a fundamental shift in how products communicate with consumers and supply chains.

## What This Means for Brands

Every product on the shelf is about to become a direct, interactive channel. A scan is no longer just a price lookup — it is an entry point into:

- **Instant product discovery** — explore your full range, reviews, and detailed product information

- **Effortless repurchasing** — frictionless reordering direct from the product

- **Brand engagement** — competitions, loyalty rewards, and personalised content

- **Sustainability transparency** — digital product passports that build consumer trust

The checkout till is no longer the end of the customer journey. It is the beginning. Brands that adapt now will own the customer relationship. Those that wait risk being left with dead, disconnected packaging.

## How SmartLinks Turns Packaging into a Powerhouse

At [SmartLinks](https://www.smartlinks.app), we help brands turn this mandatory tech upgrade into a massive marketing win. When customers scan your product, they enter a dynamic product portal designed for instant discovery, frictionless repurchasing, and massive brand engagement.

SmartLinks portals are built in minutes, require no technical expertise, and are fully GS1 Digital Link compliant. The smart packaging revolution is already here.

**Turn your packaging into a powerhouse at smartlinks.app →**