Start-up launches QR code to track freshness of produce

SunnyBee, a retail entity of the WayCool Foods and Products, has introduced QR codes on a pilot basis at their retail store in the city. This will allow customers to scan and get details of the farm, where the vegetable and fruit were grown, the date of their harvest and even also the logistical journey to the store.

The city-based start-up works with around 35,000 farmers across the country, of which 10,500 are from TN and 2,100 from Chennai. Dasari added that they help farmers earn 30 per cent more than their usual income. The firm ventured into the B2B space in early 2017, when it also raised $2.7 million (about Rs 15 crore) from Aspada Investments.

Explaining how consumers can go about using the QR code, Dasari said if they scan the QR codes of each produce using the ‘Food Source’ app, they will obtain the details — such as the name of the farmer, the date of harvest, the distribution centre and even the vehicle in which the produce was transported to the store — right on their mobile screens.

“The app is in its beta stage now and the QR codes are being tested on only a few produce at our Alwarpet store, but we plan to expand the system to all our farm products across all seven stores in two months,” he said.

The app would be launched officially once all the stores are fully integrated with the system. “Also, consumers who place orders using the ‘SunnyBee’ app have the option of choosing their date and time of delivery.

This gives us time to ensure that only fresh produce reach our consumers directly from the farms as we do not store them in warehouses,” said the entrepreneur.

SunnyBee accounts for about 10 per cent of WayCool’s revenue. It is functional across Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore and Hyderabad. It sells around 300 tonnes of farm produce daily.