If you're moving from selling halves and wholes to selling packaged cuts, the barcode question comes up fast. Here's a plain-English look at when you need one, what a GS1 barcode is, and how we handle it. The wider path is how to sell your own beef in Texas.
Do you need a barcode?
Usually not, if you sell halves and wholes
When a buyer pays you for a half or a whole and picks up their order, there's no checkout scanner involved. The package label from the plant does the job.
Usually yes, if a store scans it
If your beef will be rung up at a grocery store, a meat market, or anywhere else with a scanner, the store will usually ask for a barcode on each package. Ask your buyer exactly what they need before you order anything.
It depends for farmers markets, restaurants, and online sales
Some buyers want barcodes for inventory. Others don't. Ask first.
What a GS1 barcode is
GS1 is the organization that issues the numbers behind retail barcodes. A barcode identifies your product (for example, your brand's ribeye) so a store's system knows what it is. Retailers generally want barcodes that trace back to numbers issued to your business through GS1.
Getting GS1 numbers: either way works
- Bring your own.If your business already has GS1 numbers, bring them and we'll use them.
- Or let us help.If you don't have GS1 numbers yet, we can help you set them up.
Beef sold by weight
Most beef packages don't weigh exactly the same, so they don't sell at one fixed price. Stores handle weight-priced items in different ways, and some use barcode formats that carry the weight or price. Your retailer will tell you which format they scan. Get that answer in writing before you set up your labels.
Questions to ask your retailer
- Which barcode format do you scan for beef sold by weight?
- Does the barcode need to carry the weight or the price?
- Do you need anything on the case or box, not just the package?
- Do you need a product information sheet for each item?
- Are there delivery or packaging requirements we should know about?
Write the answers down and bring them when you call us for a quote.
How we quote it
Private label design and GS1 barcodes are quoted separately for each project. They aren't part of the flat processing price. See private label processing.
Setting up a new private label takes about 1 to 2 weeks for simple claims, and longer for more complex claims. Plan for that time before your first labeled batch.
The processing itself stays at the flat price: $850 for a whole on one cut sheet, $450 for a half, or $900 for two halves on separate cut sheets, with patties and chili meat included.
Barcodes, private labels, and label claims
These three things often come up together, but they're separate:
- Barcode:identifies the product for a store's scanner.
- Private label: your ranch name and brand on the package. Quoted for each project.
- Label claim:a statement like “grass fed” or “Texas raised / local”. Claims approved in-plant have no added charge. Claims that need USDA LSAS approval carry a small added charge. See how label claims work.
Why USDA inspection matters here
Stores and distributors need beef they can legally sell. Every animal we process is processed under USDA inspection, and we don't do any custom-exempt work. That means you can sell your beef anywhere, including retail and commercial distribution.
A simple order of operations
- Line up your buyer and ask what barcode format they need.
- Decide whether you'll bring your own GS1 numbers or want our help setting them up.
- Call us about a private label and barcode quote.
- Settle any label claims and gather the supporting documents.
- Schedule your cattle and collect cut sheets, leaving time for label setup. For a larger drop-off, see processing groups of 10 or more.
- Bring cut sheets, payment, and supporting documents at drop-off.