The challenge
According to an annual crime survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), there were 20 million thefts committed between January and August in 2024, equating to 55,00 a day, costing retailers £2.2 billion in losses. This has risen dramatically from 16 million in 2023, with the rise in crime linked to orchestrated attacks from criminal gangs. Police attendance at incidents has remained low, leading many retailers to invest billions in loss-prevention technology, including CCTV and body-worn cameras.
Iceland faced a period of major loss and operational inefficiencies as a result of the theft of fresh steaks. Previously, the leading UK supermarket chain was left with no choice but to display a limited number of steaks in locked security boxes, limiting customer availability and requiring frequent staff intervention to replenish.
The solution
Working closely with Andy Edwards, Head of Loss Prevention & Corporate Audit at Iceland Foods, the Harrison Products design team developed a bespoke upright, space-optimised, and theft-deterring dispenser system to accommodate Iceland’s 12oz and 16oz steak ranges with an adjustable shelf bracket to ensure compatibility across various chilled shelving units.
The dispenser allows for eight steaks to be displayed for each stock keeping unit (SKU), improving availability by up to four times while controlling theft. The design introduces a controlled retrieval mechanism, slowing down and visually deterring theft without hindering genuine shoppers, whilst improving on-shelf availability and driving sales.
Suitable for chilled retail environments, where products are uniform, rectangular, and flat, the dispenser turns loss prevention into a commercial advantage, meeting modern retail needs without sacrificing shopper experience.
Initially deployed across Iceland and Food Warehouse stores, the solution is adaptable for wider use in grocery, convenience, and chilled merchandising sectors requiring security and product visibility, whilst creating a more attractive, organised shelf, enhancing shopper experience and product visibility.
The result
Following the installation of 30 dispenser units in February of 2024, Iceland experienced revolutionised fresh meat merchandising within just four weeks. Increased on-shelf availability contributed to a 129% uplift in sales and a waste reduction of 8.5% across Iceland and Food Warehouse stores.
The dispenser design, which experienced zero-unit breakages across rollout, slows down theft without requiring staff intervention, helping reduce stock loss by 44% while minimising conflict risk with potential offenders.
Not only did the steak dispenser strengthen security, but also elevated merchandising standards, delivering fuller, neater shelves and quicker replenishment.
By innovating in both security and merchandising, Harrison eliminated the need for lockboxes, streamlined shelf replenishment, improved visual appeal, and enhanced the customer experience, all while protecting high-value products.
Ultimately, the rollout was a win for loss prevention, operational efficiency, and the overall shopper experience and proves that smart design can drive both profitability and in-store presentation.
Andy Edwards, head of loss prevention & corporate audit, Iceland Foods commented: “Working with Harrison Group has been an exceptional experience. We developed a chilled, retail-ready security unit specifically designed to support the sale of fresh steaks.”
