FMI's Asset Protection in Food Retail report shows that shoppers value the food industry's focus on safety, while pushing back on some theft deterrents.
By: Steve Markenson, Vice President, Research & Insights, FMI
FMI’s Asset Protection and Grocery Resiliency (APGR) Conference highlights the amazing and unheralded work the food industry does to keep our shoppers and associates safe in-store. We know from our industry survey that these professionals have more than their share of concerns keeping them up at night. They are planning, strategizing and implementing new technologies as part of their efforts. Our Asset Protection in Food Retail report includes these findings from our annual industry survey.
This report gives the industry a chance to step back and assess the impact of their efforts on shoppers through our second annual shopper-focused survey. Along with video feedback from shoppers we interviewed, I shared some key learnings from this survey at the APGR conference in Austin, Texas, last month.
Appreciating Security Measures
Shoppers express growing appreciation for their grocery stores’ focus on providing a safe environment. They generally express satisfaction with the security measures they notice in stores, including cameras and security personnel. The vast majority of grocery shoppers say their primary grocery store provides a safe place to shop (94%), and they appreciate measures enacted to keep shoppers safe (93%).
Pushing Back on Some Deterrents
Some shoppers complain about theft deterrents that cause them inconvenience in stores. Almost half of shoppers say locked display cases or shelves negatively impact their in-store experience, compared with only about a quarter who consider it a positive. Regarding other theft deterrents, about a fifth of shoppers report negative feedback about receipt checks, anti-theft devices on products and cart security.
Acknowledging Self-Checkout Theft Risks
Self-checkout is broadly used by shoppers, and a majority (67%) say it allows some customers to avoid paying for items. Some acknowledge that theft at self-checkout can ultimately lead to higher prices.
Feeling Less Worry About Societal Challenges
In an effort to understand the shoppers’ mindset as they approach shopping, we find grocery shoppers express less concern about societal challenges compared to a year ago. Some (18% to 21%) report high levels of concern about violent activity, drug use, overall lack of civility and neighborhood crime. But these proportions are far less than the 28% to 37% who expressed high levels of concern a year ago. A majority now say they aren’t worried (54% to 57%) about these societal challenges as they go about their daily lives.
Spotlighting the Impacts of Media
Most grocery shoppers say they are more aware of their environment due to acts of violence. However, this year’s research found that the heightened awareness is driven more by news and social media (74%) than by having witnessed acts of violence (55%).
For more information, you can download the Asset Protection in Food Retail report and see how your organization compares to others in the industry. We hope to see you at the APGR conference next May.
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