Industry Representatives Urge Political Parties to Address Increasing Shoplifting in Grocery Stores
As the election campaign approaches, industry representatives are calling for political parties to prioritize the issue of shoplifting, particularly in grocery stores. Pierre-Alexandre Blouin, president of the Quebec food retailers association (ADAQ), and Michel Rochette, president of the Retail Council of Canada Québec (RCC), have expressed concerns over the rise in organized thefts by the anti-capitalist group “Les Robins des ruelles” in Montreal and Quebec City.
Blouin emphasizes that losses from theft now surpass the profits of grocers, highlighting the severity of the situation. Rochette adds that shoplifting has been on the rise in recent years and is a major worry for the industry.
In 2024, Canadian retailers suffered $9 billion in losses due to theft, a significant increase from $5 billion in 2018, as reported by the CCDR. To address these escalating concerns, the two industry representatives joined six associations in the agri-food sector for a press conference in Montreal, urging political parties to acknowledge the importance of their industry and take action.
The agricultural sector, food processing industry, and food retailers all share concerns about the need for better regulation. Martin Caron, president of the union of agricultural producers (UPA), believes that excessive regulation plays a role in driving up food prices.
