Ask the Collective

Should case barcodes be the same as bottle barcodes, or should they be unique?

Case barcodes should be **completely different from bottle barcodes**. Members consistently recommend using unique codes because cases and bottles are different stock-keeping units (SKUs). This becomes critical if you move into wholesale accounts like Booker or Costco that sell full cases alongside individual bottles—using the same barcode could result in customers being charged a bottle price for a full case, creating serious errors in point-of-sale systems. For any barcode queries or registration, members recommend **contacting GS1 directly** for guidance on proper barcode assignment.