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Barcodes in New Zealand

Here is some information about barcodes in New Zealand.

The first live barcode scan in New Zealand occurred in 1983 at Napier’s Taradale New World supermarket, showcasing the practical application of this technology in everyday retail settings. This innovation revolutionized the grocery sector, leading to substantial productivity gains. Economist Brian Easton estimated that the supermarket sector alone saved over $1 billion annually due to barcode implementation, translating to approximately $280 per person per year.

Looking ahead, the retail industry is transitioning towards 2D digital link barcode adoption, aiming for implementation by 2027. This shift will standardize product identification, improve supply chain visibility, and enhance consumer trust, further cementing the barcode’s role in New Zealand’s retail landscape.

NZ Barcode numbers

In New Zealand, we predominantly use EAN-13 barcodes. These are used on all products except for books and magazines (ISBN and ISSN barcodes, respectively). You can also use UPC-A Barcodes. However, these are far more common in North America. See our Barcode Format page for the differences between these.

NZ Retailer Restrictions

There are very few restrictions on barcodes. However, it is probably worth checking out our barcode acceptance page to see if you need barcode verification or restrictions on our barcodes. This is especially true if you are going into large retailers (such as supermarkets).

Nz Find Our Barcodes Working Away At April

NZ Businesses using our barcodes

Click on the database link below to see some Kiwi businesses using our barcodes. Some of our clients have been with us for over 10 years.

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