QR codes are slowly gaining traction in the marketplace. When scanned on a product package, on a shelf sign, or in a print advertisement, these Quick Response codes can direct consumers to web sites, music downloads, informational videos - in short, to an abundance of bonus material. It is "value-added" wrought smartly and simply. All consumers need to do is download a QR code reader to their smartphones to enjoy the benefits.

Some brand campaigns that have incorporated QR codes have proven to be successful, including recent ones for Constellation Wines and Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereal. But there's no widespread adoption - yet. Most experts believe that the more consumer packaged goods companies and retailers know about QR codes, the more likely they are to use them as part of their marketing toolkit. You may know a lot about about QR codes, but here are five things you may not know...

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Brand and Store-Level Digital Couponing Platform

Tested by Dole and ShopRite Stores

The CPG industry's first brand and store-level mobile couponing solution from Catalina Marketing has been tested by Dole and ShopRite super-markets. This follows the company's hiring of former Google Affiliate Network executive, Chris Henger, to lead its expansion into the growing digital space.

Catalina's mobile strategy follows the same shopper-insight and engagement methodology powering its in-store print communications currently distributed globally in more than 50,000 food, drug and mass outlets.

Henger said the company's audience of 90 million households and 300 million weekly transactional insights "provides an excellent platform for making our digital solutions scalable, measurable and profitable for our clients in the very near future."

Catalina and its test partners, including ShopRite and more than 60 CPG brands, have leveraged

the world's largest transaction-level shopper marketing data warehouse to create compelling

mobile programs...

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