Aldi staff told to ‘refuse to serve customers’ who don’t follow new bag rule

Aldi is reportedly ‘refusing to serve customers’ who do not follow their new bag rule when shopping at the supermarket store.

According to reports, staff across Aldi stores have been told to refuse to serve customers who decline to have their bags searched by security while waiting at the checkout.

Last week, one shop member told The Grocer Magazine: “We are asking that they allow us to look in the bags and see that they are empty. We have been asking to look in the bags to make sure that none of our items are in there.”

The Aldi staff member said that those who do not comply with the new bag rule will be refused the sale — although they added that this had not happened in their particular store at the moment.

The new measures came to light on an Aldi Facebook group where one worker posted: “New policy at Aldi, all empty shopping bags must be on the belt plus all shopping.” As they explained that the rule ‘came in force’ a few weeks ago.

Another person commented: “I work at Aldi too. It’s an awful feeling having to ask customers.”

The policy has been brought into place to prevent shoplifters as the supermarket has seen theft go up since the start of the cost-of-living crisis. Shoppers can also be asked to have their bags checked before leaving the store if staff suspect they have stolen something.

Aldi have said that it is a short-term measure being used at ‘some stores’, that it is not a ‘national policy’ and it is down to each store.

The checks are only being done on the empty shopping bags people bring with them to pack their shopping in and not on their personal bags and handbags. Shoppers are asked to put their empty shopping bags on the belt along with their food items.

The policy might not be that new, though, as some reports of bag checks at the budget supermarket chain have been around since May. Aldi is one of several supermarkets introducing the new checks to prevent the theft of food items.

Food prices have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine with inflation reaching its peak in March at 19.4%  – seeing a number of supermarkets put security tagged lock boxes on everyday items such as baby formula, butter, cheese and toiletries.

Other security measures supermarket chains have brought in to prevent theft include limiting items on shelves, adding more security tags to products, and  having customers scan receipts to leave the store.