Supermarkets trial face scans to cut theft

Marie Wagner • August 18, 2026 • 2 min read

Supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths trial face scans to reduce theft and protect staff amid rising retail crime.

Supermarkets trial face scans to cut theft - face scans — Supermarkets trial face scans to cut theft

Australian supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths have tested facial recognition technology in stores to address rising crime and violent incidents.

Early trials by both companies were part of a broader retail effort to evaluate the technology’s role in protecting staff, particularly in Victoria. The state has experienced increased theft and offenses in major supermarket networks.

Trials remain limited, but expansion may follow

Coles described its effort as a “small, one-off, controlled proof-of-concept test” that did not gather customer or employee data. A spokesperson stated the company has not decided on further deployment but continues to explore options for safety.

Woolworths conducted a trial at its New Zealand office and is considering a wider rollout in stores there. Neither company revealed the number of Australian locations involved or the duration of the tests.

The system captures shoppers’ biometric data and compares it against a watchlist of individuals flagged for aggressive behavior or prior bans. If no match is found, images are discarded.

Legal changes allow wider adoption

The trials followed a legal win for Wesfarmers, which overturned a privacy commissioner’s ruling that facial recognition violated customer privacy. Bunnings, owned by Wesfarmers, is now expanding its use of the technology after the case.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner revised its guidance to permit facial recognition in retail settings where the aim is to prevent serious crime, violence, or intimidation.

Retailers have already spent heavily on other anti-theft measures, such as exit gates, bagging-area cameras, and body-worn cameras for employees. Industry figures show that over 60% of retail crime involves just 10% of offenders.

Facial recognition could help target that small but active group. Neither Coles nor Woolworths has announced plans for a full rollout.

Woolworths’ New Zealand operation may serve as a test case. If the technology works there, it could speed up adoption in Australia, where retailers face pressure to improve safety and reduce theft.

The supermarket chain has also made other operational changes recently.