Greggs has removed front-of-store food and drink fridges in several branches to tackle shoplifting, with plans to expand the pilot across its 2,735 stores if successful.
The bakery chain has redesigned stores with a theft-proof counter where all products are stored behind it, out of customer reach, according to a report. The West Croydon branch has reopened after renovation, and stores in Croydon, Peckham, Whitechapel, Upton Park, Birmingham, and Wilford have also been transformed. The pilot scheme will be expanded across Greggs' 2,735 branches if it reduces crime, violence against staff, and protects customers, major media sources reported.
A customer at the West Croydon branch told the Daily Mail that the only items that can be taken without paying are sugar, napkins, and coffee stirrers. A worker at the Peckham shop said the redesign 'does make life easier,' according to the same source.
However, staff have faced serious incidents. A worker at the store told the Daily Mail that they have had boiling hot tea thrown in their face, and a security guard was targeted with a belt. Another employee said the branch has struggled due to homeless people taking drugs and alcohol and stealing, according to the Daily Mail.
Shoplifting offences reported to police in England and Wales more than doubled in five years, from 228,128 in 2020/21 to 530,457 in 2024/25, according to House of Commons Library data analysed by the Liberal Democrats. Only 19.8% of shoplifting offences in 2024/25 resulted in a charge, with the Metropolitan Police having the worst rate at 6.5%. In one notable case, a shoplifter named Adam Gosling, 39, stole close to £20,000 worth of items from Greggs.
The exact number of branches currently in the pilot and the timeline for full rollout remain unclear. It is also unknown whether the redesign has led to a measurable reduction in theft or violence, and the cost of renovating each branch has not been disclosed.