SHOPPERS have been left disappointed after Sainsbury’s is set to make a major change with a “four-step process” for customers.
The supermarket giant is trialling new electronic security cabinets in a bid to tackle theft at the booze isles.
Customers could soon find locked self-service cabinets containing spirits at their local stores.
Sainsbury’s could implement new electronic security at some of its branches to keep thieves away from the booze isles.
The new tech would ask shoppers to complete a four-step process on a touchscreen to open the cabinet and nab their favourite spirits.
The giant retailer is still trialling the American-manufactured system – which tracks when items have been removed.
The Freedom Case tech has been developed by American retail technology company Indyme.
And it can also detect how often the cabinet has been opened and how long for.
The system requires shoppers to scan their loyalty app or card to access the case.
Customers will also have to identify themselves using their mobile phone number or via facial recognition.
However, Sainsbury’s claimed that no facial recognition or customer data is required as part of the trial.
A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: “The version we are trialling does not require any customer information, data, or loyalty card.”
Trials of the new security measures have already started at a small number of branches – including a St Albans branch.
A spokesperson told The Grocer: “We regularly review security measures in our stores and are currently trialling cabinets in a small number of branches.”
The Sun Online has approached Sainsbury’s for comment.
The new security measures come amid a huge spate in shoplifting.
According to the British Retail Consortium, theft cases have soared in recent years – with an average of 45,000 incidences a day in 2023.
The soaring numbers have left retailers a whopping £1.8bn out of pocket.
Premium spirits are known to be among the most commonly targeted items due to their high cost.
But the move has left many loyal shoppers disappointed.
Taking to social media X, formerly known as Twitter, one said: “A great, but depressing thread.”
However, Sainsbury’s is not the only retailer to go hard on thieves.
Aldi was also spotted slapping security protection stickers on £1.20 multi-packs of chocolate after a spate of thefts.
Photos obtained by The Sun from a branch in South London also shows packs of Mars bars, Maltesers, KitKats and Snickers — sold for £1.59 each — given the stickers.
Elsewhere, ludicrous tags were seen on rolls in a Tesco Express store in south London – where the shoplifting rate is one of the worst in the country.
A Tesco branch in Birmingham also went extreme lengths to keep thieves away from nabbing baby formula.
Parents flocking to the Swan Island in Yardley spotted boxes placed in mesh metal bags and locked behind huge tags.
