News | November 12, 2012

Checkpoint Systems Partners With ECR Europe And The University Of Leicester For A Four-Year Study On Shrink

Source: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.

New Research Projects Planned for the Next Four Years Will Aim to Transform the Understanding of Loss in the Retail Community

LONDON, UK — Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CKP), a leading global supplier of shrink management, merchandise visibility and apparel labeling solutions for the retail industry, today announced its collaboration with a four-year study on shrink with the University of Leicester and ECR Europe (Efficient Consumer Response), which is developing new ways to combat loss in the retail industry.

The co-chairs of ECR Europe Shrinkage Work Group: John Fonteijn, Head of Group Asset Protection at Royal Ahold; and Colin Peacock, Customer Development Director, On-Shelf Availability for Procter & Gamble, will ensure these new projects bring value to the retail community by improving industry knowledge and understanding on a wide range of retail loss related issues.

These projects will include:

  • Understanding the impact of loss on on-shelf availability
  • Charting the potential impact of developments in mobile scanning technology
  • Exploring the links between employee satisfaction and loss
  • Discovering the challenges of managing loss in the multichannel retail environment

Companies involved in the project next to Checkpoint Systems are: Tesco, Asda, University Of Leicester, L'Oréal, Procter & Gamble, Marks & Spencer, Beiersdorf, Royal Ahold, Carrefour Belgium, Sainsbury’s, Heineken, Jumbo Supermarkten, ECR Europe, Metro Group, Wilkinson, Diageo Brands, Bacardi, Polo Ralph Lauren, A.S. Watson and GSK.

John Fonteijn, Head of Group Asset Protection at ROYAL AHOLD, shared his enthusiasm: “I am confident that we will uncover new perspectives and insights into a wide range of aspects related to loss in the retail industry. As an established think tank on the topic of shrinkage and loss in the retail sector, the ECR Europe Shrinkage Group, with the continued support of Professor Adrian Beck and the addition of a new Research Assistant Megan Bornman to the team, can now really begin to develop new knowledge to help the industry better manage the significant problem of loss.”

Colin Peacock, Customer Development Director, On-Shelf Availability for PROCTER & GAMBLE, added: “I believe the production of new knowledge and understanding is essential in developing more effective methods of loss prevention as well as useful tools that could aid retailers and manufacturers to better manage loss in their organizations.”

Per Levin, President & Chief Sales Officer Shrink Management & Merchandise Visibility Solutions for Checkpoint Systems, added, “Checkpoint is excited to partner with ECR Europe Shrinkage Group on this four-year study that will provide a valuable insight into the effects of shrink in the industry.  We are committed to help retailers and manufacturers reduce shrink and improve merchandise availability, especially in stores where new technologies are revolutionizing purchasing habits. By understanding and improving the impact of losses, we can support manufacturers and retailers and ensure consumers have a pleasant shopping experience.´´

ECR Europe Shrinkage Group hopes to further establish its presence within the retail community as an active forum that provides a unique, fresh look at the problem of loss as well as providing ongoing and up-to-date support catering to the needs of the retail community. In line with this, an active web presence, through the use of various social media forums and websites, will be created. Furthermore, the initiation of new modes of disseminating the findings of the research being conducted has already been planned.

About Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (www.checkpointsystems.com)

Checkpoint Systems is a global leader in shrink management, merchandise visibility and apparel labeling solutions. Checkpoint enables retailers and their suppliers to reduce shrink, improve shelf availability and leverage real-time data to achieve operational excellence. Checkpoint solutions are built upon 40 years of RF technology expertise, diverse shrink management offerings, a broad portfolio of apparel labeling solutions, market-leading RFID applications, innovative high-theft solutions and its Web-based Check-Net data management platform.  As a result, Checkpoint customers enjoy increased sales and profits by improving supply-chain efficiencies, by facilitating on-demand label printing and by providing a secure open-merchandising environment enhancing the consumer’s shopping experience. Listed on the NYSE (NYSE: CKP), Checkpoint operates in every major geographic market and employs 5,600 people worldwide.

Twitter: checkpointsys

About ECR Europe and ECR Europe Shrinkage Group

The ECR Europe Shrinkage Expert Group has been active since 1999, producing numerous Blue Books, White Papers and tools, organising specialist seminars and regular team meetings.

ECR Europe (Efficient Consumer Response Europe) is a joint organisation of National ECR Initiatives and companies from trade and manufacturing in Europe. Its purpose is to promote collaborative processes as fundamental business principle in the consumer goods value chain in Europe to fulfil consumer wishes better, faster and at less cost in a more sustainable way. ECR Europe builds on more than 20 National ECR Initiatives that gather over 1800 leading companies and have issued more than 250 Best Practices Blue Books covering the different areas of ECR strategy (in particular supply chain and demand management) and optimizing other interface topics between manufacturers and retailers.

http://ecr-all.org/about-ecr-europe/

Source: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.