Orijin Plus

Zombie QR codes could be eating your brand alive.🧟♂ New weekend, new test. I scanned 30 product QR codes... 20% were zombies, Dead links and Expired trials. Why? Brands forgot basic upkeep. With less than two years until the GS1 2027 sunrise, this isn’t just bad tech, it's bad branding. And if this test is anything to go by, a QR Zombie apocalypse is near. Currently only 30% of brands are even using QR codes. Most use the same QR code for all products and point it to a generic home or recipe page. But what’s coming is different. The average F&B brand will need 20 to 40 live 2D Barcodes (QR codes) tied to each individual product SKU. Each one will carry product-level disclosures, layered content, and for the savvy brands crafty consumer engagements. Sounds complicated? I get that. That’s why we built Orijin Plus to simplify QR code management for brands. No zombies. No chaos. Just smarter connections.

Are barcodes going to vanish by 2027? 🛒 This is one of the most common questions I get asked so hopefully video number two helps clear things up. Ambition 2027 - With the increasing demand for more information about the products we use and consume industry has set a goal that, by the end of 2027, all retail POS systems should be capable of reading and processing both 1D and 2D barcodes Starting to understand what this means now will mean 3 things for your business - 1. You can unlock the benefits sooner rather than later 2. You are future proofing your business 3. When the transition does happen you will be ready 🙌 Have you started thinking about it - let me know your thoughts in the comments! Holly Harden-Sweetnam Camilla Young GS1 UK

Scanned 30 QR codes at the supermarket. Only one took me to the actual product. Why are so many product QR codes still sending people on a wild goose chase? I scanned 30 at my local supermarket. Just one led to a product-specific page. The rest...generic homepages or dead links. If someone is already holding your product, 90 percent of the marketing battle is won. From that moment on the job is simple for someone making a product query from pack. Serve clear, product-specific information. Not a generic homepage. Not a guessing game. Just the details they need, right when they need them. Product-specific QR codes offer clarity- - Providing easy navigations to serve product answers - Optimised mobile first UX to allow curious shoppers to explore more if/when they want - Personalised experiences achieved through smart routing, serving information relevant to their location To create engaging offline to online consumer experiences it needs to start with product-specific QR codes. From there everything else is upside.

Food and beverage is packed with BS. The brands exposing it are the ones rewriting the rules. Radical transparency is quickly becoming a growth lever, not just a value prop. Progressive brands are cutting through the noise by showing exactly what goes into their supply chains and what doesn’t. It’s resonating with consumers and shaking up stale categories. I’m long on transparency-led brands disrupting food and bev over the next 2-3 years. Especially with GS1 2D barcodes going mainstream by 2027, unlocking real product level traceability and storytelling at scale. This shift isn’t hype. It’s the new consumer expectation.

What are consumers wanting from connected packaging? With brands adopting product-specific QR codes and the shift to 2D barcodes by 2027, this question is more relevant than ever. What are consumers actually seeking when they scan?

Meet James Williamson🔌 co-founder of Orijin Plus 🚀 It was great to catch up with James and get to know a bit more about Orijin Plus, the transition from barcodes to 2D barcodes, what this means for industry and what James has found valuable in attending AgriFutures evokeAG. We hope you enjoy the catch up as much as we did.

It feels like we have come so far, yet in many ways, we are just getting started. Our journey began as a food brand, and today our software platform is gaining traction worldwide. The energy and momentum we are feeling right now are unmatched. One of our biggest supporters from day one has been Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development. Their belief in our mission has meant the world, and we are incredibly grateful for their ongoing support. A special thank you to Joan Lim, Simon Tarmo, Peter May, Susan Hall, Ryan Del Casale (aka Big Tiger) and Liam O'Connell. Your guidance and partnership have been invaluable. Appreciate the case study write-up and looking forward to what lies ahead!

Supply chain transparency is evolving and your packaging is now part tech. Traceability isn’t new. But what’s groundbreaking is putting that power directly and instantly into consumers' hands. One of our founders, James Williamson🔌 recently discussed this and more on the Agrimaster “Boots Off Log On” podcast, hosted by David Egerton-Warburton, in the episode James unpacks how connected packaging is reshaping traceability and consumer engagement.

Surge and Vault couldn’t beat Mountain Dew. Can Simply Pop challenge Olipop and get Coke the Win? Surge launched with $50 million. Vault promised energy drink power with soda refreshment. Both aimed straight at Mountain Dew. Neither lasted... Now, The Coca-Cola Company returns with Simply Pop, targeting prebiotic sodas like OLIPOP PBC and poppi Here’s what Simply Pop brings: - Real fruit juice (25-30%) - Vitamin boosts (C and zinc) - All at $2.49 They’ve done their homework, gut health is trending, and Millennials and Gen Z crave functional drinks! History shows bold launches don’t guarantee wins... Mountain Dew outlasted Surge and Vault. Will Simply Pop rewrite Coke’s playbook or just add another 'almost' chapter? Innovation or déjà vu?

22 million Clubcards, endless data. Is this AI innovation or just surveillance? Tesco is exploring AI-powered nudges using Clubcard data, which tracks around 80% of its transactions. Tesco’s aim is apparently to "steer shoppers toward healthier choices..." If your basket’s sodium content is 250% above daily recommendations, AI could suggest lower-sodium swaps. It sounds harmless, yet raises some concerns: - 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆: Although Tesco says it doesn’t sell individual data, anonymised insights still earn millions for third parties. - 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁: While 60% of Brits welcome personalisation, 62% demand clear value in return for their data. - 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Younger shoppers (18–24) might be open, but if the nudges start feeling like a nagging mum, they might push back. Critics worry these 'nudges' could feel more like surveillance, turning your weekly shop personal. Tesco is walking that fine line between innovation and overreach. AI has potential here, but its success will depend on transparency, choice, and proving real benefits without crossing boundaries. Does this feel like one step too far?