Aldi introduces new bag search policy that means it can 'refuse to serve customers'

One Aldi worker has claimed that employees can refuse customers the sale if they do not comply with the new rule.

Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter

We have more newsletters

Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter

We have more newsletters

Aldi has reportedly adopted a bag search policy across a small number of stores that means it can refuse to serve customers who do not comply with the rule.

An Aldi worker told The Grocer Magazine that the bag searching policy had been introduced into select stores last week and is carried out by security guards - not Aldi staff. They said: "We are asking that they allow us to look in the bags to see if they are empty. We have been asking to look in the bags to make sure none of our items are in there."

As reported by the Mirror, the employee further noted that customers who choose not to comply with the bag checks can then be refused the sale. However, they did say that this has not yet happened in the store where they work.

According to the supermarket's employee, shoppers walking out of the store could also be stopped by security if they are suspected of theft.

Workers have recently been taking to social media to let customers know that a small number of stores had introduced the policy in a bid to crack down on shoplifting.

One Aldi worker shared news of the policy to Aldi's Facebook Group Page in a post that read: "New policy at Aldi, all empty shopping bags must be on the belt plus all shopping."

They further noted that the policy reportedly "came into force last week", while other staff members commented that it was an "awful feeling" having to ask customers.

It is understood that this is not a national policy and only select stores are carrying out bag checks as a short-term measure, and only on bags of groceries.

Aldi is not the only budget supermarket to have introduced new anti-theft measures into its stores recently, as Sainsbury's also recently introduced a "receipt rule" for self-service shopper.

The policy, which is featured in a small number of stores, means that shoppers who use the self-service till for their shopping were being asked to scan their receipts as proof of purchase.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.