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.

— Filed Wed, 24 Jun, 2026, 14:09 IST · Source Mint · Industry · Updated

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 write-offs and boost margins as own-brands now drive 70%+ of revenue at some chains.

Why this matters

Builds on Reliance Retail's vertical push: 8 lakh garments shipped daily, a 21-cluster manufacturing base and Rs 3.7 lakh crore revenue. Smart QR codes extend that control into shelf-level margin tracking.

Retail-company signals steady at 3,626 over the last 90 days, reflecting sustained own-brand and supply-chain activity.