Amid rising levels of shoplifting, Iceland Foods has rolled out new anti-theft on-shelf dispensers for high-value cuts of meat.
The retailer had faced a period of significant loss as a result of the theft of fresh steaks. This left the chain with no choice but to display a limited number of steaks in locked security boxes, limiting customer availability and requiring frequent staff intervention to replenish.
The retailer has now rolled out a solution, developed with Harrison Retail, to 15 Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores. The theft-deterring dispenser system accommodates Iceland’s 12oz and 16oz steak ranges with an adjustable shelf bracket to ensure compatibility across various chilled shelving units.
The dispenser allows for eight steaks to be displayed for each SKU, improving availability by up to four times while controlling theft. The design introduces a controlled retrieval mechanism, slowing down and visually deterring theft without hindering genuine shoppers.
Suitable for chilled retail environments, where products are uniform, rectangular, and flat, Harrison Retail claims the dispenser turns loss prevention into a commercial advantage, meeting modern retail needs without sacrificing the shopper experience. The solution is said to be adaptable for wider use in grocery, convenience, and chilled merchandising sectors requiring security and product visibility.
Following the installation of the first dispenser units last year, Iceland saw an increase in on-shelf availability, which contributed to a 129% uplift in sales and a waste reduction of 8.5%.
Andy Edwards, Head of Loss Prevention & Corporate Audit, Iceland Foods, commented: “Working with Harrison Group has been an exceptional experience. We developed a chilled, retail-ready security unit specifically designed to support the sale of fresh steaks.”
