BILLA supermarkets are implementing new security measures in response to increasing theft and customer aggression, according to company officials.
The supermarket chain plans to introduce one-way exits in its stores, preventing customers from leaving through the entrance they used to enter. “To be honest, we are installing this as well,” BILLA Slovensko General Director Harald Mießner said in a recent interview. “We already started in Austria, and we will as well have one-way exits here, meaning people won’t be able to leave the store through the entrance they came in.”
The move is primarily aimed at combating organized retail crime, but also comes as BILLA has observed a shift in customer behavior. “I don’t recognize exactly what it’s due to, but people are more aggressive, not only when they are caught stealing, but also with regular complaints,” Mießner stated. “I assume it also has roots in social media, the level of hatred and aggression that people see there. You know how many aggressive clips and videos people scroll through? That has its consequences.”
Whereas a specific timeline for the rollout hasn’t been announced, the changes will affect BILLA locations in Slovakia. The company is evaluating several technological options to protect both customers and assets. “We will begin installing security measures in the near future,” BILLA spokesperson Marek Kravjar told tvnoviny.sk. The changes underscore a growing concern among retailers about security and customer conduct.
