Supermarkets in Spain, the world’s largest olive oil producer, are keeping bottles of oil locked up as thefts have increased due to rising prices.
One-liter bottles of extra virgin olive oil sell for up to 14.5 euros in some supermarkets, making olive oil a category of products that retailers are putting a security tag on, along with alcohol, cosmetics and home appliances.
“We have seen a significant spike in shoplifting” said Ruben Navarro, general manager of the Tu Super supermarket chain in Spain’s Andalusia region. – Olive oil has become the perfect product for them to steal.”
Prices have risen 150% in Spain over the past two years as a scorching drought in the south of the country has undermined the olive crop. Navarro said organized crime groups are stealing the oil for resale.
Since September, Tu Super has attached 5-liter bottles of olive oil to the shelves with a padlock to prevent theft. “It’s a crazy and extreme measure, but it has worked” Navarro said.
Tu Super is not the only company to tighten security measures: in some Carrefour and Auchan supermarkets in Madrid, liter bottles have security tags that staff must remove.
Source: Oleoscope