Latest news with #lossPrevention
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Shoprite's Usave stores boosts energy efficiency, food quality with smart tech
Usave, Shoprite Group's no-frills discount stores, recently introduced an advanced loss prevention system designed to reduce costs and boost operational efficiency in its supermarkets - helping the retailer to continue delivering the lowest prices to customers. This is in response to South Africa's rising energy prices. Implemented in partnership with 100% South African tech company Azoteq, the customised system employs SmartSense technology to track power consumption and facilitate rotational switching of store equipment during power outages, utilising inverters and battery banks. It is especially critical for Usave's rural and peri-urban stores, where the electricity supply is often erratic and extended outages are a regular challenge. 'This pioneering work showcases how our real-time, proactive use of innovative, locally developed technology, combined with a strong focus on operational excellence and cost savings, helps us prevent unnecessary waste and reduce shrinkage-related costs - efficiencies that allow us to pass even more value and savings directly to our customers,' says Dewaldo Diedericks, general manager of Usave. The system monitors temperatures in critical areas, like cold storage, freezer rooms, and the sales floor, and issues alerts when predetermined thresholds are surpassed, thereby preventing spoilage and optimising energy consumption of equipment in these areas. Data is delivered through a user-friendly dashboard that equips management with real-time insights to enhance decision-making, ensure improved food quality, and prevent costly equipment failures. Generator runtime and fuel levels are also tracked, enabling the business to follow more efficient servicing and refueling schedules. In this way, Usave avoids unnecessary maintenance, further reduces costs, and minimises the likelihood of unexpected outages in instances where a switchover to a generator is necessitated. To generate additional savings, Usave supermarkets also regularly simulate power outages at supermarkets on time-of-use (ToU) tariff structures, switching over to battery during peak times when electricity is more costly, and charging the batteries during off-peak times. 'We have been able to respond and prevent freezer failures as they occur, achieving a 0% rate of stock loss across all stores where this system has been implemented to date. In addition, the seamless, automated transition from generator power to hybrid inverter and battery power during outages has saved the business more than 80,000 hours worth of costly services and fossil fuel consumption,' adds Diedericks. Already running at 202 locations, Usave plans to equip all its stores with SmartSense technology, gradually replacing older uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. As part of its sustainability efforts, the discount retailer is also gradually incorporating solar energy into its operational strategy at its already compatible hybrid system stores
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Guelph business employee allegedly assaulted during theft: police
An orange shopping basket is seen in this stock image. (Uriel Mont/ Police have arrested a Guelph man after a theft at a business last week had allegedly become violent. On May 22 at around 6:45 p.m., Guelph Police said they were called to the business near Silvercreek Parkway North and Speedvale Avenue West. Staff told police that a man was seen placing store items into his backpack. They said a loss prevention officer then asked him to use a store basket instead, before the suspect ran away. The employee followed him outside the store to arrest him but staff told police the suspect allegedly pushed the employee into a concrete pillar and ran away again. Police said the employee was not hurt. Police said officers found the suspect downtown on Thursday and arrested him. A 45-year-old man from Guelph was charged with assault.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Young Aussie mum calls out her local Bunnings for 'targeted' move in store
A young Aussie mum claims she was followed around her local Bunnings by security because of her extensive tattoos - prompting the hardware giant to respond to accusations it 'profiles' its customers. Madeline Wood, 31, said she had gone to the hardware store to replace some light globes and had brought the old ones with her in a bag. The young mum claims she was singled out and followed by a staff member wearing an earpiece because her arm and leg tattoos were showing. 'I've got (ear) stretches, it's hot today so the tattoos on my legs are showing, and I was obviously profiled,' Ms Wood claimed in a TikTok video. 'I work in retail management. The business I work for has undercover loss prevention officers... I understand their role and I understand what they look like. 'This one guy has his earpiece in or his AirPods. It's normal for them to be on the floor, the people on the cameras are telling them who to look at because they think that they're stealing. 'I had my light globes out, I was checking the boxes to make sure they're the same ones. Then I had to find some heat lamps and went to ask someone for those cause I couldn't find them. 'I then went back to the aisle and I saw the loss prevention guy looking at all the light globes that I had been touching, probably trying to assess whether or not I had swapped my ones over, or if I had stolen some, I don't know.' @_madelinewood Massive rant so hold on 2x speed but I'm so sick of being followed around retail stores by security just because of the way that I look! Anyone else have this happen or am I just the lucky one? #rant #bunnings #theft #fyp #aussiemum #momlife #mumsoftiktok ♬ original sound - _madelinewood Ms Wood said she learned in her role in retail management that offering to help customers often deterred would-be thieves while it also boosted customer service. She said the experience was even more infuriating because she spotted two customers pocketing items as as she was leaving the store, noting: 'That undercover could have been watching for that instead of watching me'. Ms Wood's video garnered a flood of comments from Aussies saying they have had a similar experience in their local Bunnings. 'They do this to me, I have tattoos, coloured streaks in my hair and eyeliner. I also manage in retail and the people who actually steal never get watched,' one said. 'In Coles the other week, a guy was literally following me down every single aisle, I get you have a job to do, but it made me feel like I was doing something wrong,' another said. 'I own a security company and even I get followed in a couple shops,' a third said. Another suggested Ms Wood should 'make a complaint' as they had once had a security guard 'rip' a trolley put of their hands. 'Needless to say she doesn't work at that Coles anymore,' they said. Bunnings has insisted it does not profile customers. 'Creating a safe and welcoming environment for our team and customers is important to us, and this is reflected in the diversity of our team,' Bunnings Director of Stores, Rod Caust, told Daily Mail Australia. 'Like many retailers, we sometimes have loss prevention contractors in our stores who are engaged through an external licensed provider and are trained in monitoring customer behaviour. 'Discrimination and profiling have no place in our business and are not part of our loss prevention practices. 'All team members and security personnel receive rigorous, regularly reviewed training focused on safety, legal responsibilities, and respectful engagement — not appearance, background or personal characteristics.'
