Consumers Want Smart Labels

70% of consumers want to know more about a product then the ingredients on the label.

July 17, 2018

KANSAS CITY – Smart labels can include QR codes, sensor microchips and image recognition. It’s technology that extends the label or packaging beyond the first view. Thousands of products are already smart label-enabled—and consumers are loving it.

“SmartLabel participation has increased significantly from 4,000 products in early 2017 to nearly 28,000 food, beverage, personal care and household products today,” said Jim Flannery, senior executive vice president for the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

Studies found that 70% of consumers want to know more about a product than the ingredients on the label and nearly 56% say they would use an app to learn more. As a result, the global market for smart labels reached $4.7 billion in revenue in 2016. Findings from Future Market Insights’ report, “Smart Labels Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016–2026,” found that it will reach $22.6 billion by 2026.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute have already launched the SmartLabel Transparency Initiative to aid the food industry. Several baking brands are on board: Flowers Foods, Inc., Nature’s Own and Dave’s Killer Bread have SmartLabel-enabled packaging.

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