By Mark Hamstra
Source: Supermarket News
Albertsons has closed the self-checkout lanes at five supermarkets in Long Beach, Calif., after the city placed restrictions on the service.
Last month the city passed an ordinance prohibiting customers from using the self-checkout to purchase age-restricted items such as alcohol and tobacco and items that have been locked down to prevent theft. It also requires that retailers staff the self-checkout areas with at least one store employee for every three self-checkout stations, and that retailers limit self-checkout purchases to no more than 15 items. The ordinance took effect this week.
The United Food & Commercial Workers union had advocated for the ordinance, citing high levels of theft at grocery stores. The wording of the new law mirrors to a large degree the restrictions that were included in the new contract agreements that the UFCW reached this year with Raley’s, Stater Bros., Gelson’s, and Albertsons- and Kroger-owned stores in the region, although those agreements did not appear to prohibit the sale of locked items.
Albertsons has closed the checkout lanes at all four of its Vons supermarkets and one Albertsons store in Long Beach, a spokesperson for the company confirmed.
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