Consider this. Loss prevention programs require monetary output for potential safety and security measures, such as buying and installing CCTV cameras or implementing access systems. Such programs also demand an investment of time and effort on the part of the entire organization for activities, such as training security guards or involving multiple departments in the risk management processes.
While LP professionals and restaurant owners understand the need for additional security, many are scrambling to get the most “bang for their buck” when it comes to investing in or updating their security systems.
Restaurant Loss Prevention and Security Program Considerations
Millions of people are employed in the food industry for good reason—one out of every four adults eats in a restaurant on a typical day. Due to the sheer volume of business conducted on a daily basis, the high number of people employed by the industry, and the magnitude with which consumers frequent these establishments, LP professionals have a lot to consider when designing effective restaurant loss prevention and physical security programs.
- Risk management
- Securing property
- Safety of customers
- Safety of employees
- Employee theft
- Robbery
- Lighting
- Security cameras or other monitoring devices
- Cash protection
- Credit card protection
- Alarm systems
- Crisis management
- Honesty policies
- Loss reporting
- Employee training
- Environmental design for safe workplaces
- Food safety
- Privacy issues
- Legal concerns and much more
There is simply no “one” LP program that is right for every company. An effective security program will depend on many variables from the number of employees in your organization to the number of people you service. It will also depend on such factors as the vulnerability of your company to security breaches, the specific store locations, the ease with which those with malicious intent can gain access to your records, or even something seemingly as easy to fix as proper outdoor lighting.
There are many components to consider, but the best security programs are typically designed by loss prevention professionals who have a deep knowledge base. Active and consistent learning experiences that review the risks and vulnerabilities of the restaurant industry will inform and enlighten those given the daunting task of designing an effective LP program for their company.
This article was excerpted from “Franchisees: Building a Loss Prevention Program from Scratch,” which appeared in LP Magazine in 2015.