MBA project about Spanish supermarkets

**asd92** · 14-08-2009, 03:44

Hello, All -
My name is Tony Davidson. I am an MBA student with Cornell University. As our global business project, my team has decided to explore the feasibility of deploying a new retail security system in Spain that analyzes videotape to detect "sweethearting" - when a cashier bypasses the scanner and gives stuff away.

We would like to get a sense of the Spanish retail environment, especially grocery. For example: are check out scanners ubiquitous? Is video surveillance in stores a common practice? What are the major food and general merchandise stores and chains? Are RFID tags commonly used in grocery? General retail?

I'd greatly appreciate any "on the ground" insights before our planned trip in October. Thanks very much!

**Val** · 14-08-2009, 07:47

Good morning and welcome to the Absolute Spain Forum, several points I can answer.

Video cameras in supermarkets hahahaha that would be something ! they would catch all the customers who pick up something they fancy eating/drinking having some or all of it and leaving container on a shelf

I have witnessed that many a time.

Supermarket chains, Supersol, Dia, Mas, El Jamon, Carrefour, El Corte Ingles/Hypecor, Mercadona, Eroski and Llidl. All of those are around me in Sevilla area. I have seen something called Spar, there is also Iceland I believe. Somebody will probaly add more.

Some goods ie clothes have security tags and the labels get 'screwed up' before you leave till area then told to remover before washing or are in security boxes ie razor blade, expensive alcohol has a security 'collar'.

**weblin** · 15-08-2009, 09:59

Plus,Aldi,Simply Market,Alcampo are the ones I can add....on security cameras => sometimes there cameras at the entrance ..I am up in Catalunya...
..otherwise as Val already wrote..

**baldilocks** · 15-08-2009, 11:19

Around here (we live in a village where front doors are left open), the cost of security procedures such as cameras would probably outweigh the losses due to pilfering anyway, so NO we don't have them. The only place I have seen any security is in Lidl's in Alcalá la Real where they also hava a couple of parabolic mirrors also in Carrefour in Granada but then, we are talking about a different kettle of fish..