Berlin Supermarkets Hide Coffee Amid Rising Theft Concerns

In Berlin, a growing number of supermarkets are taking drastic measures to combat an increase in thefts, particularly targeting coffee products. Major chains such as Edeka, Rewe, and Lidl have begun to remove coffee from their shelves, opting instead to store it in secured areas.

This shift is primarily driven by the rising costs of coffee, which have surged more dramatically than the average prices of other groceries. As of April 2025, the price of packaged coffee has increased by 12.2% compared to the same month last year. The supermarkets are now adopting various strategies to safeguard their inventory against theft.

The owner of an Edeka store in Wannsee explained that these measures are not intended to inconvenience honest customers but are necessary due to the alarming rise in coffee thefts. Customers wishing to purchase coffee must now approach the checkout area, where the staff can assist them in retrieving their selected product.

In another supermarket located on Schloßstraße in Steglitz, shelves have been replaced with photographs of coffee products, with actual stock being stored away. Customers are required to notify store personnel to access the coffee they wish to buy. In Wedding, a store has gone so far as to place coffee behind glass, requiring customers to ring a bell or request assistance to obtain their desired quantity.

Even discount grocery stores are feeling the impact of these thefts, with some locations limiting the number of coffee packages displayed. For instance, a store in Steglitz only places two packages of each coffee variety on the shelves at a time. This strategy aims to minimize losses by ensuring that if theft occurs, it affects only a small amount of inventory.

The financial ramifications for retailers are significant. According to the retail association, the annual cost of shoplifting in Berlin is estimated to be around EUR200 million. Reports indicate that there were nearly 40,000 incidents of shoplifting in the city in 2023 alone.

The owner of the Edeka store highlighted the responsibility employers have towards their staff, pointing out that excessive theft can jeopardize their ability to pay wages and other bills. Such levels of shoplifting pose a considerable threat to the sustainability of retail businesses.

In response to these challenges, supermarkets have enhanced their security measures. Strategies include installing security gates, surveillance cameras, and locking display cases. Some high-tech stores have implemented systems that alert management when large quantities of products are removed from shelves, as thieves often target entire pallets of coffee.

In a notable advancement, some retailers have begun to incorporate AI surveillance systems designed to detect suspicious behavior and alert staff to potential theft in real time.