Pauleys supplies instant provenance information via mobile phones

Brakes Group's fresh produce supplier Pauleys has introduced codes on punnets of its fresh strawberries so chefs can instantly access provenance and traceability information using their mobile smartphones.

The ‘quick response' (QR) codes are read in a similar way to barcodes, using a freely available reader which users can download from the internet or mobile phone application stores. Once scanned, the codes take the customer to a ‘meet the grower' story on the Pauleys website which in the case of strawberries is Justin Emery who grows the fruit at his farm in North Petherton in Somerset.

Pauleys marketing manager Rachel Sewter says: "Pauleys is committed to providing its customers with as much information as possible about who grows our produce, where it is grown and the methods they use. Now with these easy to use QR codes, all chefs have to do is point their smartphone at the pack and get instant access to all the information they need. There's even the option to put the QR codes on menus so diners can read the same provenance information."

Pauleys is currently working with other suppliers to make the QR code a feature on more items of fresh produce.