To prevent more from going on 'walkabouts', one supermarket
chain is starting a public education campaign to remind shoppers to
return their trolleys.
Another is getting its security officers to keep a closer eye on
trolley abuse and to issue verbal warnings to errant users.
On Monday, NTUC FairPrice started posting notices at more than
80 of its outlets to remind customers to return their trolleys to
'appropriate locations' after use. In-store announcements also echo
the message.
Its head of corporate communications, Ms Angela Soo, said about
70 trolleys go missing each month.
The problem has persisted despite a $1 deposit system put in
place about 10 years ago, added Ms Soo.
The same problem plagues the Giant Hypermarket chain, where
about 100 trolleys go missing each month from its eight outlets,
its spokesman said.
It is a constant bugbear for the chain, which is popular with
people making budget and bulk purchases.
To counter the problem, it hires an external company to retrieve
trolleys from the neighbourhoods near the various outlets. But this
initiative, started in 2000, has had minimal effect.
Recently, its security officers also began keeping an eye on the
movements of trolleys around the store.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits
Times.
