Kroger joins effort to protect businesses, consumers from organized retail crime
The Kroger Co. has joined the Buy Safe America Coalition in an effort to help combat organized crime.
The coalition is a diverse group of retailers, consumer groups, manufacturers and law enforcement who support efforts to combat organized retail crime and protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods.
Organized retail crime has plagued the country in recent years, and the losses from these large-scale thefts are costing American businesses billions of dollars annually. The stolen goods are frequently sold on e-commerce platforms where there is minimal verification of seller identities.
Store employees have also been put at as organized retail crime rings become increasingly violent and brazen. The surges have spurred businesses to take swift action to protect both employees and customers.
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Kroger has been at the forefront of efforts to stop organized retail crime, and has a designated crime unit dedicated to preventing these sprees. Kroger has initiated over 2,000 ORC cases, and trains hundreds of thousands of its associates to better understand and recognize instances of organized retail crime.
“As retailers nationwide continue to battle organized retail crime, Kroger looks forward to partnering with the Buy Safe America Coalition to put an end to this public safety risk,” said Mark Stinde, Kroger’s VP of asset protection. “We are proud to support the coalition’s efforts to pass the INFORM Consumers Act, which will bring much-needed accountability to online marketplaces filled with goods stolen from store shelves.”
Other members of the Buy Safe America Coalition, including The Home Depot, Rite Aid, Walgreens, 3M, HP and GSK.
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Visit BuySafeAmerica.org for more information about the growing threat of stolen and counterfeit goods and solutions to better protect consumers and businesses.