With more supermarket chains cracking down on shoplifting and installing anti-theft hardware, Cryovac Food Packaging is introducing meat soaker pads with concealed pockets to hold electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags.
The Duncan, S.C., division of Sealed Air Corp. began kicking the EAS tires six years ago, according to Richard Douglas, marketing director of rigid packaging & absorbents, but few supermarkets were outfitted with EAS deactivation devices at cash registers and EAS pedestals at the exits. The situation is rapidly changing, however: half of Kroger's 2,500-plus stores now have EAS infrastructure in place, and the rest will install the necessary hardware in the near future. Publix, Giant Eagle and other grocers are following suit, and mass merchandisers such as BJ's Wholesale Club and Wal-Mart also are EAS-equipped.