Coles pulls Panadol and Nurofen off some store shelves
The store takes radical step after increasing shoplifting
- by
Matthew Denby
Supermarket giant Coles has taken the extraordinary measure of pulling a range of medicinal products - including Nurofen, Panadol, as well as pregnancy tests – from shelves in a number of stores.
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The move, which affects a limited number of outlets, none of which have been formally named, is an anti-theft measure, following an apparent escalation of stealing of the targeted products, reports New Idea Food.
The medication and pregnancy tests will be held behind counters, just like cigarettes, in the affected stores - with customers required to ask for them, rather than just picking off the shelves.
A Coles rep told the Geelong Advertiserthat the move was unfortunately necessary.
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‘While the large majority of our customers do the right thing, it’s not fair that a small number of people get away with doing the wrong thing,’ the spokeswoman told the paper.
‘Like a number of retailers, we work with police to reduce shoplifting.
‘There are also trained covert security officers in our stores nationally and they’re catching hundreds of thieves every week and reporting them to police.’
Matthew DenbyMatthew is Executive Editor - Digital (Entertainment & Family) at Pacific Magazines