On 26 June, 1974, a packet of Juicy Fruit chewing gum passed through the checkout at a grocery store in Troy, Ohio, becoming the first ever item to have its barcode scanned. Within months, millions of ...

Beep. We’ve come a long way since June 26, 1974 when the first bar code was scanned at a grocery store in Troy, Ohio. That legendary pack of Juicy Fruit proved that even the smallest of items could ...

The patch of irregular vertical lines that revolutionised checking out at the supermarket and facilitated the globalisation of retail is turning 50. But as the barcode celebrates its birthday on ...