Reduce Loss. Protect Profit. Improve Performance.
Why does loss prevention matter for retail and restaurant businesses?
Loss prevention isn't simply about stopping theft. A comprehensive programme can help:
- Reduce shrinkage and avoidable loss
- Protect profit margins
- Identify operational weaknesses
- Improve cash and inventory controls
- Create consistency across multiple locations
- Strengthen employee awareness
- Monitor and manage risk more effectively
This is particularly important for restaurant chains and franchise groups, where consistency across an estate is a major commercial issue.
What causes loss and shrinkage?
For retail and hospitality businesses, "loss" can come from food waste, theft, cash handling mistakes, or everyday processes that quietly eat into profits.
Every year, retailers lose billions through theft, fraud and simple mistakes. In the UK alone, customer theft cost retailers £2.2 billion in 2023/24, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
How can Intertek help with loss prevention?
Intertek provides loss prevention audits, assessments and training to help restaurants and hospitality businesses identify risks and implement practical measures to reduce loss.
What does a loss prevention audit cover?
Cash & transaction controls
Review cash handling, till procedures, transaction monitoring and controls designed to reduce cash loss and fraud.
Inventory & stock management
Identify weaknesses in stock control, product tracking, receiving procedures and inventory reconciliation.
Waste & spoilage
Assess processes that can contribute to unnecessary food waste, spoilage and avoidable costs.
Security & theft prevention
Review security measures, high-value product controls and procedures designed to deter theft.
People & training
Assess whether employees understand loss prevention procedures and have the training needed to apply them consistently.
Data & technology
Explore how transaction data, reporting and technology can improve visibility of loss and identify unusual patterns.
Ready to Reduce Loss and Protect Profit?
Get in touch to speak to an Intertek Loss Prevention expert
PODCAST: What causes loss in restaurants and retail, and what can businesses do about it?
Loss prevention is becoming increasingly important for retailers, restaurants and hospitality businesses facing rising costs, theft, food waste and operational inefficiencies.
In this podcast we explore the key causes of loss and shrinkage across retail and restaurant environments - from shoplifting, employee theft and administrative errors to inventory discrepancies, food waste, fraud and dine-and-dash incidents.
Hear practical strategies to help businesses reduce loss, improve inventory and operational controls, minimise waste and protect profitability, including the role of technology, audits, employee engagement and effective loss prevention processes.
Listen to the podcast to discover practical ways to identify risk, reduce shrinkage and strengthen loss prevention across your business.
