Reliance, Star Bazaar, Amazon pilot data-rich QR codes to power private-label margins
India's top retailers are rolling out GS1 2D QR codes on private labels to track batch, expiry and pricing in real time. With own-brands now driving 70%+ of revenue at DMart and 73% at Star Bazaar, the shift targets lower write-offs and tighter margin control by end-2027.
What happened
Reliance Retail, Trent's Star Bazaar and Amazon India are piloting GS1 2D QR codes on private labels to track batch, expiry and pricing data, aiming to cut
Key facts
- 70% DMart private-label revenue share
- 73% Star Bazaar private-label share
- Rs 850 crore Star Bazaar Q4FY26 revenue
- Sunrise 2027
Why this matters
Watch GS1 India-aligned traceability vendors and private-label co-manufacturers as acquisition targets, since Reliance and Amazon scaling 2D codes will pressure mid-tier grocers to buy capability rather than build.