Updates

Partnership with STRICH for professional barcode scanning

Matthias Schmid

July 14, 2023

Simplifying household organization through barcode scanning

Creating a list of everything that's deep down in the freezer or in the basement is quite a chore. Nevertheless, such a list helps to keep a better track of supplies, to shop more purposefully, and to restock and consume before food goes bad.

The barcode, which is found on almost all food items, greatly speeds up the process! After all, scanning provides information on almost all products - including name, photo, package size, and makes creating a stock list child's play.

The Pantry.App uses a barcode scanner for organizing and facilitating household management with a database of nearly 3 million products.

Why something new at all?

When I started to rebuild the Speisekammer.App in 2019 as a successor to the "Prepper App" in the iOS App Store, I initially decided on a web app. The advantages are obvious: As a website, the app works on almost any device and the development effort was low. However, it quickly became apparent that barcode scanning, while possible, had its weaknesses. For instance, the barcode scanner used in the web app at that time had several problems:

  • The recognition performance was generally not as high as one would expect
  • In modern cell phones with multiple lenses, sometimes the wrong one was selected, the image was not sharp, and the barcode was not read
  • For reliable scans, an additional external scanner was necessary
  • To scan, one had to search for the WebApp in the browser - there is no app icon

It quickly became apparent that a web app was an optimal solution for power users and small businesses, but not for end-users who want to quickly scan something in the basement. Here, our iOS and Android app, which was released in 2021, is more suitable. The integrated barcode scanner is robust and utilizes the latest technology with machine learning.

Introduction to STRICH

JavaScript barcode scanning librarySTRICH is a JavaScript library for real-time, multi-format barcode scanning in web apps. STRICH is fast, reliable and has competitive, transparent pricing.STRICHPixelverse LLC

Alex Suzuki developed STRICH as a professional solution for barcode scanning in web apps. Among others, he managed to impress the Swiss Federal Railways as a notable client - the integration of his scanning library there was completed in less than a day. The same was true for the integration into the Speisekammer.App - an initial integration was satisfactorily completed in under half a day.

Alex responded very promptly to questions and always provided competent help - among other things, by quickly translating the library's error messages into German for our users, who are predominantly from the D-A-CH region.

An impressive demonstration of performance can be found on the Strich.io website. Here it becomes clear how the STRICH Open-Source Library excels in browser scanning.

Comparing STRICH to ZXing and QuaggaJSAn in-depth comparison of STRICH with Open Source competitors ZXing and QuaggaJS in terms of performance scanning real-life codes.STRICHPixelverse LLC

Even these worn barcodes are quickly and reliably recognized by the library, while the open-source competitors already give up here.

These (DHL) barcodes are robustly recognized by Strich.io.

So if you're considering integrating a barcode scanner into your app as well, I can highly recommend STRICH!

Benefits of using BARCODE with the Pantry App

With the update of the barcode scanner, you can now save time with even faster and more robust scanning! You can also use the WebApp with the latest multi-lens phones starting immediately.

Feel free to try out the new scanner! If you have any feedback, we would love to hear from you! Please send us an email at kontakt@speisekammer.app. For questions regarding STRICH, it's best to directly email Alex at hello <at> pixelverse.ch

Why we never stop refining Smantry ✨

At Smantry, we don't believe in 'finished'.
An app that is meant to accompany people in their daily lives is never complete – it grows, changes, and evolves. Just like the people who use it. πŸ’›

We regularly pay attention to every detail:
How does a click feel? Is the path to a function clear enough? Does the idea behind a new view come across intuitively?
Sometimes it's just tiny things that make the difference – a better-placed button, a simplified overview, or a sentence that suddenly becomes clearer.

What drives us is the idea that Smantry should feel easy, familiar, and meaningful.
We want you to open the app and feel: "Ah, this is exactly how it should work."

Of course, not everything always goes perfectly. But that's exactly the point: We take the time to listen, to observe, to reconsider. Every piece of feedback, every use case, every new idea helps us to understand a little better what really matters.

Smantry is not a rigid product for us – it's a living process. A collaborative project that grows step by step.
And every update, every small improvement is a sign that we are on the right track:
A path to an app that doesn't feel like technology, but like support.
Towards a daily life that becomes simpler. Towards clarity, structure – and maybe even a bit of ease. 🌿

We're staying on it.
Because we are convinced that good things take time – and that it's worth creating them with heart.

Your
Smantry-Team

October 16, 2025
1 min read

🌱 Staying on track made easy: How to stay motivated to create order and avoid food waste

We all know it: Initially, the motivation is high! You finally want to get your kitchen organized, keep an eye on your supplies, and shop more consciously. But after a few weeks, everyday life creeps back in – and the good resolutions start to falter.

With Smantry we want to support you not only in getting started, but also in sticking with it in the long term. πŸ’ͺ✨

1. Be aware of why you are doing this

Order and sustainability are not short-term trends – they grant you freedom, time, and a good feeling. If you know why you want to keep your supplies in check or throw away less food, it becomes much easier to stay consistent.
πŸ‘‰ Tip: Write down your 'why' in the app note or as a reminder.

2. Set small, achievable goals

Nobody becomes an organizing pro overnight. Start small:

  • Today I'm just organizing the spice rack.
  • Check the fridge this week.
  • On your next shopping trip, purposefully buy only what you really need.
    Small steps lead to success – and success motivates!

3. Make it easy for yourself – with smart helpers

Smantry automatically reminds you of expiring products, helps you keep track of your inventory, and assists you with shopping. This way, you have to think less and can enjoy more.
πŸ‘‰ The less effort required, the easier it is to stick with it!

4. Celebrate your progress πŸŽ‰

Creating order or avoiding waste is a process, not a sprint. Regularly review what you have already accomplished – you may already see that you need to throw away less or that your supply is finally manageable. That's great!

5. Make it part of your routine

Schedule fixed 'Smantry moments': for example, briefly check the inventory on Sundays or update the shopping list before going shopping. Routines provide structure and make sustainable actions a matter of course.

πŸ’š Conclusion:
Motivation is not a perpetual flame – but with the right tools and habits, you can reignite it time and again.
With Smantry, you have a smart companion by your side that helps you stay organized, consume more consciously, and incidentally do something good for yourself and the environment.

October 9, 2025
2 min read

More clarity when shopping: How Open Food Facts and the Smantry app make nutrition transparent

Many foods look healthy at first glance – but what's really inside them? Are the nutritional values balanced? How processed is a product? And what impact does it have on our environment?
This is exactly where the Smantry-App comes in: It uses the globally open database Open Food Facts, to give you immediate clarity when scanning your items. But what's actually behind the colorful labels like Nutri-Score, NOVA or Eco-Score, that you encounter in the app?
Let's take a closer look at the background.

Open Food Facts: From the Idea to a Global Database

The journey began in 2012 with the founding of Open Food Facts – a non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and makes food information freely accessible worldwide. The goal from the beginning was to provide consumers with scientifically substantiated information.
What started as a small project has now become a global platform with millions of products. And it is precisely this data that the Smantry-App uses to give you a clear overview directly on your smartphone.

An overview of the most important scores

1. Nutri-Score – how healthy is my product?

Since 2016, the Nutri-Score has been legally established in France – and it has quickly spread throughout Europe.

  • A (green) means: very balanced.
  • E (red) means: unbalanced, enjoy in moderation.

The rating is based on calories, sugar, salt, saturated fats – but also on positive factors such as fiber, protein, and the proportion of vegetables.
πŸ‘‰ So in the Smantry app, you can see at a glance whether a food item fits into your everyday life – or perhaps should be on the table less often.

2. NOVA-Score – how processed is it?

Not only the ingredients, but also the degree of processing plays a significant role for health. This is exactly what the NOVA-Score (integrated into Open Food Facts since 2018) shows you:

  • 1 = unprocessed or minimally processed (e.g., fresh fruit, plain yogurt)
  • 2 = ingredients such as vegetable oils, sugar, flour
  • 3 = processed foods (e.g., bread, cheese, canned goods)
  • 4 = highly processed products ("Ultra-Processed Food"), often with additives, flavors, and industrial processes

πŸ‘‰ With the Smantry app, you can instantly tell if a product is still 'close to nature' – or if it falls into the category of being highly processed.

3. Eco-Score (soon to be Green-Score) – how sustainable is my shopping?

Since 2019, Open Food Facts also includes an environmental assessment: the Eco-Score. It takes into account, among other things:

  • COβ‚‚ emissions from production and transportation,
  • Packaging and recyclability,
  • Origin and seasonal factors.

The rating is – similar to the Nutri-Score – from A (very eco-friendly) to E (less sustainable).
By 2025, this will become the Green-Score, which will take into account even more detailed data and thus provide you with even better guidance for sustainable consumption.
πŸ‘‰ For you in the Smantry app, this means: You can see not only whether a food is healthy for you, but also whether it is good for our planet.

What this means for you as a Smantry user

Currently, you can scan your products in the Smantry-App and view many details. The scores themselves are not yet integrated – but the integration is planned.
This means: Soon you will be able to see not only the nutritional values of a product but also how healthy, processed, or sustainable it is – all directly in your app.

Conclusion: Your Smart Nutrition Compass

The colorful labels are much more than pretty symbols. They are your quick compass in everyday life – whether you want to shop with health consciousness, reduce highly processed products, or pay attention to the environment.
With the Smantry-App you already have strong support for more transparency while shopping. And with the planned integration of the scores, it will become even more valuable – your smart nutritional compass for the future.

September 21, 2025
3 min read

Cooking with the Future: Augmented Reality and Smart Interfaces for Your Recipes

That’s exactly what augmented reality (AR) and smart interfaces bring to the table. They project digital information where you need it most: into your cooking environment. This makes it easier to stay organized, cook more efficiently, and even reduce waste – because less stress in the kitchen often means fewer forgotten or spoiled ingredients.

And here’s where Smantry comes in. The app already helps you keep track of your pantry, avoid food waste, and stay in control of your kitchen. With upcoming features like leftover-based recipe suggestions, you’re already stepping into the smart kitchen future today.

πŸ‘‰ Bottom line: The kitchen of tomorrow is here – and it’s efficient, sustainable, and surprisingly fun.

September 11, 2025
1 min read