“Supermarkets Lost Millions Due to Increased Customer Theft in 2021, Mainly Driven by Self-Scan Checkouts and Inflation: Marshoek Study”

Supermarket customers more often took something without paying last year than in 2021. Supermarkets therefore missed out on an average of 66,300 euros per store. In 2021, that amount was about 20,000 euros lower, according to research by retail specialist Marshoek. NOS writes about.

Due to the increased theft, the entire supermarket sector lost about 70 million euros last year. According to the retail specialist, mainly vegetables, fruit and bread fall prey to shoplifters.

One of the reasons for the increase is the increase in the number of self-scan checkouts. This form of payment encourages theft, writes Marshoek.

As a result, some supermarkets seem to be slashing the brakes with the arrival of even more self-scan checkouts. “We hear opposition in the supermarket sector, supermarkets that have put the rollout of self-scan on hold, partly due to the increase in theft,” said the financial retail specialist in his research.

The increased theft also seems to be driven by higher supermarket prices. Researcher Richard Kievit says against NOS you can’t separate the two.

Inflation rose to 10 percent last year, the highest number since the 1970s. Foods, such as vegetable oils, but also dairy and meat, became considerably more expensive.