Price look-up (PLU) codes are unique numbers used to identify bulk produce sold in grocery stores and supermarkets. Since their introduction in 1990, over 1400 PLU numbers have been assigned and are managed by the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS), a global coalition established in 2001 to standardize produce labeling worldwide. These codes simplify the checkout process and inventory control by allowing quick and accurate identification of produce varieties, which is especially useful when similar-looking items, such as organic and conventional types, have different prices. This system enhances efficiency for both customers and store staff by reducing errors and speeding up transactions.
Uses
PLU codes are used primarily in retail grocery stores or supermarkets, where they are keyed into point of sale systems by cashiers or by customers at self-checkout machines when the produce is being weighed or counted. The codes may be printed on small stickers, tags, or bands that are affixed to produce, or may be printed on signs. Since 2006, stickers with PLU codes may also have a GS1 DataBar Stacked Omnidirectional barcode.3
Numbering conventions
Conventional produce is randomly assigned four-digit PLU codes in the 3000 and 4000 series.4 Organic produce may be designated by prefixing the four-digit conventional PLU with a 9.5
Numbers 83000-84999 were supposed to be used for GMO productions, but they were opened for general use after GMO growers declined to use them.6
Retailer-assigned codes
Some PLU code ranges are reserved for retailers. This allows codes to be defined by individual retailers or location, and allows the use of PLU codes in lieu of barcodes. There are retailer-assigned ranges for general and category-specific use. For example, 3170–3269 can be assigned by retailers to any goods, while 4193–4217 can only be assigned to apples.
Suppliers may coordinate with their retailers to use the same code in the retailer-assigned range for a specific product.
Promotion via PLU stickers
Some producers have obtained a license to place characters on stickers on PLU code labels, often as a promotion for a movie, television show or other media franchise. For example, Imagination Farms has marketed produce with collectible Disney character stickers such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo under the Disney Garden brand,7 and Chiquita has marketed bananas with Minions stickers on them, along with a competition.8
Collecting
Although the collecting of PLU labels as a hobby already existed for a while, it became widespread through social media presence and fashion designs that use fruit stickers. The popularity of the hobby was further increased by online catalogs and collector clubs.9
In addition to illustrations, important factors for collectors are compositions of these stickers and the type of product they are used on. Most popular materials for creating PLU code stickers are plastic film and paper, however cardboard, metallized film, wrapping tissue, and textiles are also known to be used.
Environmental concerns
Although PLU labels are recognized globally and most chain supermarkets use them, they sometimes cause rejection of the fruits and vegetables to which they are attached from being accepted for composting disposal or disposal by cruise ships at sea. Generally, they are not made of biodegradable material.10
See also
- Supermarkets portal
- Technology portal
- International Article Number
- Packaging
- Stock keeping unit (SKU) codes, another system
- Universal Product Code, another system for identification of consumer products
External links
- The International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS) website
- User Guides (international Price Look-Up numbering scheme)
- A complete list of all currently assigned PLU numbers: PLU-codes Search
- Online collection of PLU labels: Fruitsticker.de
- PLU Lookup Utility: PLU Lookup
References
"PLU Codes Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). IFPS. Retrieved 21 July 2023. https://www.ifpsglobal.com/Portals/22/IFPS%20Documents/IFPS.release.July2015.pdf ↩
"About IFPS: Who Are We?". IFPS. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015. IFPS is composed of national produce associations from around the globe. https://web.archive.org/web/20150310160444/http://www.ifpsglobal.com/AboutIFPS.aspx ↩
"GS1 DataBar". Retrieved 8 August 2015. http://www.pma.com/content/articles/2014/05/gs1-databar ↩
"PLU Codes Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). IFPS. Retrieved 21 July 2023. https://www.ifpsglobal.com/Portals/22/IFPS%20Documents/IFPS.release.July2015.pdf ↩
"PLU Codes Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). IFPS. Retrieved 21 July 2023. https://www.ifpsglobal.com/Portals/22/IFPS%20Documents/IFPS.release.July2015.pdf ↩
"PLU Codes Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). IFPS. Retrieved 21 July 2023. https://www.ifpsglobal.com/Portals/22/IFPS%20Documents/IFPS.release.July2015.pdf ↩
Imagination Farms announces Disney branding effort. The Packer. 17 May 2011 http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/imagination_farms_announces_disney_branding_effort_122100574.html ↩
Heather Fletcher. Case Study: Minions, Is That a Banana in Your Pocket?, Target Marketing, October 1, 2015 http://www.targetmarketingmag.com/article/minions-banana-pocket/ ↩
"Fruit Stickers on Colnect". colnect.com. Retrieved 2018-12-27. https://colnect.com/fruit_stickers ↩
Chung, Emily (4 February 2020). "How Produce Stickers Contribute to Climate Change". CBC. Retrieved 2021-01-22. https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-newsletter-fruit-stickers-climate-change-1.5462794 ↩