Why have food prices risen more than non-food prices? Food prices are a lot higher than they used to be and every shopper in the U.S. knows it. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices rose significantly between 2019 and 2022. Overall food prices increased 13.5% over [...]
As inflation drives prices higher across grocery store aisles, more shoppers turn to lower-cost store brand cereals providing similar flakes, puffs, and clusters often produced just minutes down the road. Unit sales for private label cereals sold primarily at chains like Aldi, Trader Joe's, Costco and Kroger climbed 6% over the past [...]
Publix's Overtime Pay Lawsuit Attracts More Plaintiffs Florida-based grocery giant Publix is facing intensifying legal pressure surrounding its overtime pay practices after 58 current and former department managers joined a collective-action lawsuit alleging violations of federal wage laws. Initially filed in a Tampa federal court in late October by just three plaintiffs, [...]
Exactly what is 'cashier sweethearting'? Cashier sweethearting schemes are a form of employee theft that occurs in retail environments, including supermarkets. This fraudulent activity involves a cashier giving unauthorized free merchandise or discounts to a customer, who is often a friend, family member, or sometimes even a co-conspirator. Cashier sweethearting is a [...]
Strategies to address loss prevention in Supermarkets Loss prevention in supermarkets is a critical aspect of retail management and directly impacting profitability. With various challenges ranging from shoplifting to internal theft and inventory mismanagement, supermarkets must adopt effective strategies to mitigate these losses. From shoplifting and fraud to administrative gaffes and inventory [...]
What is Food Retail Shrinkage? In grocery stores and food retail, “shrinkage” refers to inventory losses from sources like shoplifting, employee theft, administrative errors, food waste, and spoilage. Not to be confused with "shrinkflation", shrinkage is a growing problem significantly impacts profit margins in the notoriously low-margin food business. A 2021 National [...]