Grocery Chains Boost Training Amid In-Store Mass Shooting Surge
Trio of Midwest Grocers Boost Active-Shooter Preparedness, Response Training

Active shooter preparedness and response training is a necessity for food retailers. FMI and TPOP collaborate to improve industry safety and security

FMI - The Food Industry Association and The Power of Preparedness (TPOP), a Michigan-based online training platform specializing in active shooter preparedness and de-escalation techniques, today announced partnerships with three major U.S. food retail chains: Dierbergs Markets, Heinen’s Grocery Store, and Schnucks Markets. With the introduction of TPOP training, management and employees at these Midwest chains are receiving customized industry-leading eLearning that will enhance their preparedness for potential incidents of workplace violence, including the most serious threat, an active shooter event.

“While mass shooting incidents are on the rise across our country, the recent increase in active shooter events in grocery stores has the entire industry exploring security and risk mitigation training,” said TPOP President and CEO Dan Stechow. “During Covid, food retailers have been on the front line supporting their communities. Unfortunately, they have also experienced a steady increase in workplace violence, some of it deadly. With the help of our partners at FMI, we’re pleased to bring TPOP’s expert online training to these household names in food retail in order to enhance their employee safety and preparedness.”

“Every U.S. food retailer is looking for ways to mitigate risk and protect its staff,” said Tim Larouere, Director of Loss Prevention at Dierbergs Markets.

“For our organization, TPOP’s customization capabilities for the grocery industry and our organization were the deciding factor in choosing the content,” commented Cliff Gerbick, Safety Manager at Heinen’s Grocery Store. “Having access to relevant learning specific to all our facilities – including our retail stores, warehouses, manufacturing, and main offices – has provided our associates with realistic expectations for how to react to an active shooter situation.”

“At Schnucks, we prioritize safety as we put our customers first, and our team deserves the very best preparedness training available,” said Matthew Redmond, Director of Security. “TPOP’s course helped us support our teammates by addressing the challenges we face in grocery retail through succinct, easily digestible training.” supermarketnews.com  progressivegrocer.com

Retailers Using AI to Fight Holiday Retail Crime
How artificial intelligence is being used to stop retail theft
For many retailers, the holiday season is the biggest time of the year, and with increased concern about retail theft, many stores are putting in new tools to catch those who may be shoplifting. One of those tools is artificial intelligence. It's used at Lunardi's, a Bay Area grocery store.

The system uses artificial intelligence software that scans security camera footage in real-time for customer movements that may be shoplifting.

“Essentially, we’re training the cameras to see. We’re giving them a brain," says Hiren Mowji of Veesion, the French company that created the technology being used at Lunardi's and several other stores nationwide.

Veesion's technology doesn't consider someone's race, sex or how they're dressed. Instead, it alerts store staff if it thinks a customer may have taken a product and put it in their back pocket or backpack. That employee can then determine whether that person needs to be approached and escorted out of the store.

Mowji also says the artificial intelligence becomes more accurate over time as it collects data with each incident. Sanchez says the system will catch at least one shoplifter a day at his store.

Veesion's artificial intelligence system is just one example of the new high-tech tools retailers use to stop crime. More than half of stores are increasing what they spend on security and loss prevention, according to the National Retail Federation.

The National Retail Federation is pushing Congress to pass two bills by the end of 2022.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would create a Homeland Security task force to help law enforcement share information on organized retail crime across state lines. The INFORM Consumers Act would force online marketplaces to verify third-party sellers to make it more difficult for stolen items to be sold. fox4now.com

Business Community Applauds INFORM Act Passage
U.S. Chamber Applauds House Passage of INFORM Consumers Act
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley today applauded Members of the U.S. House of Representatives for bipartisan passage of the INFORM Consumers Act, a key step in the fight against organized retail crime:

“With an overwhelming majority in favor, the U.S. House of Representatives sent a clear message with the passage of the INFORM Act that the national plague of organized retail theft will no longer be tolerated. This sophisticated, organized, and growing crime wave is hurting businesses in every state, the workers they employ, and the communities they serve.

“This House action sets the table for final congressional approval and enactment by the President, which should be accomplished without delay. No store should have to close because of theft."

For more information about other legislative priorities that warrant Congressional action before the end of the year, please see the Chamber’s recent letter to Congress. uschamber.com

CA's ORC Task Force: $26M Recovered - 656 Arrested
California Highway Patrol Organized Retail Theft Program
Beginning in 2019, Assembly Bill (AB) 1065 required the Department of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), until July 1, 2021, to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to convene a regional property crimes task force to identify geographic areas experiencing increased levels of property crimes and assist local law enforcement with resources, such as personnel and equipment. The recent passage of Assembly Bill 331 will extend the operation of the regional property crimes task force until January 1, 2026.

As reported by the National Retail Federation, organized retail theft accounts for nearly $30 billion in economic loss per year. This loss is carried by retailers on several levels but is ultimately passed on to consumers through price inflation to offset economic loss. While the problem is most commonly associated with shoplifting, it extends well beyond into associated organized criminal activity. Commercial burglary, vehicle burglary, identity theft, credit card fraud, forgery, and fencing (selling or distribution of) stolen property are part of a bigger picture that finance ongoing criminal operations.

In response to AB 1065, the CHP, in consultation with the DOJ, developed a task force concept to work with allied agencies to combat organized retail theft. Three regional task forces, known as Organized Retail Crime Task Forces (ORCTF), were established by the CHP in three field Divisions with the greatest need for immediate action: Golden Gate Division (encompassing the greater Bay Area), Southern Division (encompassing the greater Los Angeles region), and Border Division (encompassing Orange and San Diego counties).

The CHP encourages victims of organized retail crime to report qualifying incident(s) which are covered under California Penal Code Section 490.4, Organized Retail Theft.  chp.ca.gov

Violent Crime Declining After Illinois Organized Retail Theft Bill Enacted
Is a new Illinois law targeting organized retail theft making a difference?
The hope this year is that the new law will make a difference in major shopping districts like the Mag Mile. "This law is one of things that's hopefully drawing down the crime," said Illinois state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Oakbrook Terrace).

Sen. Glowiak Hilton sponsored the Illinois Organized Retail Theft Bill - working closely with Karr at the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. Glowiak Hilton said they have seen a decline in group thefts like the ones that plagued the Mag Mile and other sites such as the Oakbrook Center Mall.

We took a closer look at the numbers within the city of Chicago - homing in on the four downtown area communities where we've tracked a majority of the crime. We saw a steep decline in theft numbers during the pandemic, and then they went back up. But they're lower right now than in pre-pandemic 2019.

But there is a caution about those stats. "It doesn't tell the whole story," Karr said. Karr said the drop could be attributed to how, and if, the crimes are being reported.

But Karr did tell us that since the law went into effect, the crime they've tracked has been less violent.

Karr said retailers are putting extra protective measures in place - for what is not a victimless crime. cbsnews.com

With Crime Spike & Supreme Court Gun Ruling - Most Liberal U.S. City is Arming Up
The mad rush begins - stressing local sheriff's offices

‘Never seen this number before’: Concealed carry weapons applications spike 500% in East Bay
A backlog of about 1,500 applications exists in Alameda County and more than 1,000 people are waiting for their applications to be processed in neighboring Contra Costa County.

Only about 300 concealed carry weapons’ permits were on file at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office prior to the Supreme Court June ruling, said Lt. Ray Kelly, a sheriff’s spokesman said. That figure could swell five-fold if every current application is approved — a far more likely possibility now, given the court’s ruling.

Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office received only about 20 concealed carry weapons applications a month. That number jumped after the court’s ruling to several hundred a month. Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office said Thursday it plans to hire a sergeant and at least one more specialist to help process applications. mercurynews.com

Theft Is On the Rise in UK Stores as Cost-of-Living Crisis Grows
Shoplifting rose 18% in UK stores in the year through June
 
N.Y. Democrats Blame Eric Adams for Election Losses. He Doesn’t Care.

US: 100.2M Cases - 1.1M Dead - 97.7M Recovered
Worldwide: 643.2M Cases - 6.6M Dead - 622.4M Recovered

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 362  
Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 813

Shopping is 'Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels'
Local stores eager for holidays, but issues linger
Some busy shopping holidays are coming up: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday — you name it. But with inflation and the supply chain still a concern, how do small business owners feel about this year's shopping season?

They've weathered a tough couple of years through Covid. But some State College business owners tell us they're now back to business as usual. "I think we are back to those pre-pandemic levels," observes Brian Cohen, the owner of Harper's clothing store.

While things are picking up already, customers start to flood in, in earnest, after Thanksgiving.

"Some of our customers, they have started shopping earlier," says Cohen, "but the majority of customers still shop in that historic Christmas shopping window."  "The kickoff really is Black Friday, Small Business Saturday," he adds.

Streich notes that "certain things [are] taking a little bit longer to get in our hands." Small business owners 6 News talked to say the supply chain has opened up a bit, but they are still ordering well in advance.  wjactv.com

Beijing district urges staying home for weekend as COVID cases rise across China
Beijing’s biggest district urged people to stay home during the weekend and COVID-19 outbreaks grew in numerous Chinese cities on Friday, even as China further fine-tuned its COVID rules by removing capacity limits at entertainment venues.

Under a series of measures unveiled last week, authorities have sought to be more targeted in applying COVID-19 curbs that are taking a heavy toll on the economy and fuelling public frustration and anger, sparking investor hopes this week for more significant easing. nypost.com

China confirms 1st COVID-19 death since May

Opinion: Elon Musk is wrong about remote work

Rising Violence Concerns & Retail Security Budgets
The 2022 Security Benchmark Report - Security Magazine

The 2022 Security Benchmark Report includes comparisons of security functions, sector reports, top critical issues and achievements.

Security leaders across all market sectors fill out The Security Benchmark Report — an in-depth survey which collects data on programs, initiatives, security budgets, responsibilities, technology deployments, security-related training, employees and more — to gain real-world insight into what other security programs are doing.

Workplace Violence & Business Continuity are Top Concerns

The Security Benchmark Report respondents were asked about their top issues / concerns in 2022 and 2023 in regards to risk mitigation and enterprise security. The top 10 answers appear here in order. Honorable mentions include Theft, Security budget, and Natural disasters.

2022 Security Benchmark Report - Retail & Restaurant Sector

Among The Security Benchmark Report respondents choosing Retail & Restaurant as their primary sector, 1.8% was the average security budget as a percent of revenue. The Security Benchmark Report respondents in the Retail & Restaurant sector reported an average of $190,000 in security-related spending last year.

The majority of respondents in this sector reported an increase over last year with an average security budget increase of 8%. Zero respondents in this sector reported a decrease in the security budget compared to last year.

Within the Retail & Restaurant sector, 25% of security teams reported to Operations, while another 25% reported to CRO / Risk / Legal / General Counsel. Within the Retail & Restaurant sector, 75% of Security Benchmark Report respondents reported having a security operations center (SOC) or global security operations center (GSOC) within their enterprise.

Click here to view the 2022 Security Benchmark Report

Will cracking down on serial returners solve retailers’ return problem?
A Iowa State University study concludes targeting serial returners is the smarter path to reducing return costs because targeting regular shoppers with stricter return policies will likely backfire.

In one experiment, the researchers led by Iowa State University asked over 460 participants to imagine they were loyal customers of a retailer and planned to return a recent online purchase. Half were told the retailer was shortening its return window for all customers (generalized policy) while the rest were told the change would only affect serial returners (targeted policy).

Participants were found to be significantly more likely to speak negatively about the retailer when the policy change was generalized. Further, negative word of mouth was significantly related to intentions to switch to a different retailer.

In another survey, 100 participants were asked their thoughts on generalized versus targeted policy changes. When the return policy change was targeted (aimed at serial returners), 44 percent expressed positive emotions, 13 percent negative emotions, and 43 percent, neutral. Positive respondents often referred to the fairness of the updated policy.

Robert Overstreet, a supply chain management professor at Iowa State, said in a press release, “Respondents largely understood that cheaters were increasing the price paid by everyone.”

Narvar Research study: “2022 Returns Benchmark Report” found 63 percent of shoppers surveyed admitted to bracketing (purchasing multiple variations of an item), up from 55 percent in 2019. A growing number of shoppers (15 percent) say bracketing is “just how they shop now.”  retailwire.com

100 Starbucks Stores 'Crippled' by Strike
Over 2,000 unionized Starbucks workers strike during profitable Red Cup Day
More than 2,000 unionized Starbucks baristas walked out on the job Thursday, crippling some 100 stores across the country on one of the company’s busiest — and most profitable — days.

Members of the Starbucks Workers United union walked out during the java giant’s much-anticipated Red Cup Day, a holiday mug giveaway that draws lines of customers before the stores open at the crack of dawn.

The workers were protesting the company’s “union-busting tactics,” the organization said in a statement.

The baristas say they are “underpaid, forced to run understaffed stores and they don’t have consistent schedules they can rely on,” according to the union. They also claim that Starbucks is not bargaining in “good faith” and that management has walked away from the table during collective bargaining contract discussions.

Some 260 stores, representing nearly 7,000 workers have been organized, according to the union. “The goal was to not open the stores today,” said a union spokesperson, Casey Moore, who said Starbucks was not made aware which stores would be targeted.  nypost.com

Are Your Stores Ready for Winter?
Winter Safety Tips for Retailers & Why they Matter

See which ideas will help your business the most so you can ensure a safe and enjoyable winter every year.

1. Send Weather Update Emails - When meteorologists predict an increased chance for winter storms or icy rain, send an alert email to all your employees. They may watch the forecast along with you, but it’s safer to remind them about the latest updates.

2. Plan For Adjusted Hours - Retailers should prepare for shift coverage flexibility or create remote work opportunities so everyone still receives a paycheck. Check in with team members when shift swaps get tricky so you can troubleshoot issues while everyone remains safe.

3. Salt Your Sidewalks - Salting your sidewalks is one of the best winter safety tips for retailers. Slipping and falling causes one-third of preventable injuries and fatalities during cold-weather seasons. Assign a few team members to prepare your sidewalks before the next winter storm.

4. Install Outdoor Heaters - Retailers can install outdoor heaters to keep employees who spend time outside warm. Some team members may be more sensitive to cold temperatures than others.

5. Rotate Employee Duties - Rotate employee duties frequently so everyone has a chance to warm up. Allow door holders to work as cashiers for part of their shift, or switch curbside pickup team members with inventory stockers.

6. Post Safety Tips - Post safety tips around the workspace to remind everyone how to protect themselves. Closing shift members should unplug space heaters before locking the front door. A few reminders posted in back rooms or bathrooms could save someone from painful cold-weather blunders. modernretail.co.uk

RELATED: Buffalo Buried Under 6 Feet Of Snow After Historic Storm

Massive Freight Rail Strike Before the Holidays?
Key Union Votes Down Freight Rail Contract, Making Strike More Likely

The tentative agreement, brokered in September with help from the Biden administration, had averted a strike before the midterm elections.

Members of a union that primarily represent freight rail conductors have narrowly voted down a tentative labor contract, their union said Monday.

If the two sides cannot reach another tentative agreement by early December, the rail workers could strike — an outcome that industry officials have estimated could cost the economy more than $2 billion per day.

Roughly 51 percent of the voting members of the union, SMART Transportation Division, rejected the agreement. Members of a second large union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, which primarily represents engineers, voted to approve the agreement by a margin of 53.5 percent to 46.5 percent. nytimes.com

U.S. will ‘narrowly avoid recession’: Goldman Sachs
The U.S. will probably “narrowly avoid recession,” Goldman Sachs said, predicting a smooth easing in the tight labor market and noting both an unclogging in supply chains and well-moored expectations for long-term inflation. cfodive.com

Companies boost 2023 salary budgets to 20-year high: WTW
U.S. companies — reacting to persistent inflationary and labor market pressures — are ratcheting up the targeted average pay raise they expect to hand out next year to 4.6%, according to a study conducted Oct. 3 through Nov. 4 by the global advisory firm Willis Towers Watson. The last time salary budgets were as high as they are now was in 2001 and 2002, according to Lori Wisper, managing director with WTW.

Broader economic data suggests that companies are still grappling with a red-hot labor market and wage pressures. Layoffs in September declined and job openings increased 437,000 to 10.7 million, far exceeding the 5.8 million people seeking employment, the Labor Department said. cfodive.com

Kohl's 'is a business whose time has passed,' analyst says
Kohl's is bordering on irrelevancy, and it may stay that way for years to come, warned one veteran retail analyst.

Primark continues U.S. store expansion to hit 60 stores by 2026

BJ's to continue aggressive expansion plans in 2023