How A Pack Of Chewing Gum Changed Shopping Forever: The Story Of The First Barcode Scan

On June 26, 1974, a small act at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio quietly made history—a pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum became the first product to be scanned using a Universal Product Code (UPC). What seemed like a simple beep at the checkout was actually the beginning of a tech revolution that reshaped global commerce. Here’s how barcodes went from an idea in the sand to a fixture on every shelf.

The Spark Behind the Stripes

The idea for barcodes emerged in the 1940s when Bernard Silver and Norman Joseph Woodland explored how to store product data visually. Inspired by Morse code, Woodland even drew the first version in the sand of Miami Beach in 1949—concentric circles resembling a bull’s-eye. He later secured a patent in 1952.

The Tech That Made It Possible

Back in 1949, there was no technology to scan a barcode . But with the invention of lasers in 1960 and the rapid evolution of computers, barcode scanning slowly became feasible. By the early 1970s, supermarkets had the tools they needed to bring the idea to life.

Supermarkets Take the Lead

The grocery industry saw potential in barcodes to boost efficiency and reduce pricing errors. In 1970, an Ad Hoc Committee was formed to develop a universal standard. Meanwhile, Kroger, a supermarket giant, began pilot tests with a circular barcode system in 1972.

The Barcode Gets a Makeover

The circular design kept smudging and malfunctioning. IBM engineer George Laurer came up with a better alternative: the rectangular barcode we know today, paired with 12 digits. His design, the Universal Product Code (UPC), became the industry standard.

That First Beep

At exactly 8:01 a.m. on June 26, 1974, Clyde Dawson of Marsh Supermarkets scanned a pack of Wrigley’s gum in Ohio. It was the very first use of a UPC in a real-world setting—and it worked perfectly, even on such a small item.

The Public Pushback

Not everyone embraced this new tech. Some feared it was a hidden surveillance tool, while others linked it to biblical prophecies. Consumer groups raised concerns about pricing transparency. Even the U.S. Senate held hearings on barcodes.

Slow Adoption, Then a Boom

Due to public scepticism, only 1% of U.S. grocery stores had barcode scanners by the end of the 1970s. But as fears faded and the benefits became clear, adoption soared. By the mid-1980s, over half of U.S. supermarkets used barcode systems.

Beyond the Checkout

Today, barcodes are used far beyond grocery stores. From airline boarding passes to hospital wristbands and warehouse logistics, they form the invisible backbone of modern inventory and commerce. Billions are scanned daily worldwide.

A Legacy Etched in Stripes

That pack of Wrigley’s gum now sits in the Smithsonian Museum—a symbol of innovation. What started with a line in the sand has become one of the most important technologies of the 20th century.

From invention to resistance to worldwide adoption, the journey of the barcode is a reminder that even the smallest innovations can leave the biggest marks—sometimes starting with a simple beep.