The retail sector has closed an unprecedented festive season marked by a financial black hole representing 1.1% of its total turnover. Rising prices of basic products and a lack of supervision at self-checkout tills have set alarm bells ringing.
During the Christmas period, food retail once again faced a recurring problem: an increase in shoplifting. Losses were estimated at €817 million, an amount equivalent to approximately 1.1% of the sector’s total turnover. According to the Shoplifting Barometer in Commercial Distribution, produced by Checkpoint Systems, the winter months are the most challenging, accounting for almost a third of all thefts recorded throughout the year.
The analysis also shows that external theft continues to rise steadily. In this edition of the study, losses linked to this type of crime increased significantly by around 60%, exceeding €1.66 billion and reaching an all-time high. These figures have led many retail chains to reconsider their strategies, strengthening protocols and increasingly relying on technological solutions.
Can the increase in shoplifting be stopped?
Within stores, the areas most affected by these incidents are the sales floor and, in particular, self-checkout tills, where the process is faster and there is less direct supervision. To close this risk gap, solutions such as CartControl and Purchek have become key allies as anti-theft systems, adding control and security to the shopping process without disrupting store operations.
In response, the sector has stepped up its efforts: eight out of ten companies have already implemented stricter preventive measures, and 22% have decided to increase the resources specifically allocated to security.
In the food sector, olive oil remains the most frequently stolen product, a trend that AECOC links to the sharp rise in its price between 2022 and 2024. Alongside it, other commonly stolen items include tinned and smoked products, cured meats, cheeses, as well as wines and spirits, which continue to rank among the most affected by in-store theft.
The challenge for this year is clear: in an environment where the value of the product continues to rise and shoplifting methods become more sophisticated, technology (such as our retail security systems) and anticipation are the only weapons to prevent the negative financial record derived from the increase in shoplifting from being broken once again.
