Protecting Infant Formula from Theft

How are companies addressing the protection of Infant Formula from theft? Do you make it fully available to customers (self-serve), or do you stock it behind a service counter? Are there any other security precautions/procedures you enforce for the sale of Infant Formula? Following are tips from supermarket security professionals.

• We are putting very limited quantities on the shelf along   with a sign telling the customer to go to the courtesy counter for additional quantities.
  
• Our company has removed the powdered formula from the shelves and added signage that directs the customer to obtain the product from the customer service booth or the pharmacy. We are considering placing scan tags on the shelves that can be taken to the point of sale by the customer. Once the purchase has been made, the formula can be retrieved from a locked cabinet at the front end.

• Our infant formula is fully available, but we may restrict the amount stocked.

• Since the majority of our stores are inner city locations, we secure all formula in a locked cabinet and maintain all back stock in a secure stockroom. Recently, the area has been plagued by burglars comprised of local gang members who have been breaking into stores at night and stealing large quantities of carton cigarettes. As all of the local companies have begun reducing floor stock of cigarettes to reduce potential loss, these burglars have switched their aim from cigarettes to formula, particularly the powdered type with iron. They have been known and seen on video to be armed when they enter the stores.

• Currently, selected stores that have experienced theft concerns with formula have signage placed on the shelf that informs the customer that it is available at the service desk. By doing so, we have experienced a sales increase at those stores because we are never out of stock and someone is able to assist them with case purchase needs.

• We have it available for self service. We have limits (2 cases) that can be purchased at a time. We limit quantities that can be put out. We closely monitor returns for refunds.

• We stock infant formula in most locations in the aisle under the view of CCTV. In locations where we have experienced higher losses, we have been successful in minimizing losses by moving the infant formula to an end cap. The end cap is watched by a fixed camera and a public view monitor shows the formula. We are continuing to monitor the activity on this high theft item.

• We do not put full cases on the shelf, along with reducing the amount of inventory that is kept on the shelf. We do make it available to our customers (self-serve). We have notified all store management due to recent publicity of organized formula theft so they can pass these concerns on to the security personnel. We are currently comparing the amount of formula that goes through the front end registers to what we received in order for us to determine if we have a problem.

• Formula is generally fully available to the customer, but in limited quantities in those stores with a theft problem. Additionally, we do not put out full cases in those stores but use signage directing the customer to the service desk should they want full cases. In a very few select stores, formula is located across from the checkouts in a secured case and the cashier or other front end person obtains the product for the customer. We sometimes use a shelf sign in our problem stores that informs the customer that the area is monitored by CCTV and video recorder.

• We have limited exposure in the high profile items. These items are identified through item movement reports. Once the exposure has been limited we now use an ink stamp of our company logo right on the label. This has slowed down the theft activity but not stopped it. We have also relocated the formula to a highly visible area. Formula is not locked up as a company policy although I'm sure there are store managers that are doing so.