Loblaw forms partnership with Victim Services Toronto

Loblaw Cos. has partnered with Victim Services Toronto (VST), a crisis-response service for crime and other incidents, to launch what the grocer called a “transformative program” to bolster safety in the Toronto community and its area stores.

The VST initiative adapts the successful “Ask for Angela” campaign originally established in the United Kingdom in 2016, Brampton, Ontario-based Loblaw said Tuesday. Under the program, people who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened at stores, bars, clubs or other venues approach staff at participating locations and requesting “Angela” as a code-phrase to signal that they require assistance.

Responding associates then guide the person to a private, secure area to discuss the situation and assess that individual’s needs. Loblaw said appropriate actions will then be taken, including possibly contacting the police if requested, Victim Services Toronto, a friend or a guardian.

“Victim Services Toronto came to us [as a] starting point, given the reach we have in the market,” Loblaw said in an email statement Wednesday, “and we believe it aligns well with our purpose to help Canadians live life well.”

Toronto-area Loblaw stores participating in the VST program include locations under the Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, No Frills, Valu-Mart and Your Independent Grocers banners, the retailer reported.

Related:Target to close 9 stores in 4 states due to ‘unsustainable’ theft and organized crime

“By working together, the two organizations can foster a safer and more inclusive community where everyone feels protected and supported,” Loblaw stated in the VST announcement. “This partnership represents a powerful collaboration between a respected community service organization and a renowned retailer, highlighting their shared commitment to community well-being.”

Loblaw associates at participating stores aren’t expected to provide counseling services but to steer people needing help to the necessary support channels, the company noted. To aid with the program’s implementation, VST and Loblaw have developed a brief, user-friendly online training tool for staff at participating stores. The resource includes a short video presentation and a guidance sheet informing staff on effectively responding to individuals in need.

An eye-catching poster also has been designed as a “visual reminder of their crucial role in assisting those facing challenging situations,” according to Loblaw, Canada’s largest food and drug retailer.

This summer, Loblaw's counterpart south of the border, The Kroger Co., the largest U.S. supermarket retailer, announced that its Fred Meyer chain formed a public-private partnership with the city of Portland, Oregon, to help fight crime at its stores in the area. Fred Meyer said it’s working closely with Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell and local law enforcement to provide a safer shopping experience. The move came amid elevated levels of crime—including shoplifting, break-ins and robberies—in the city that have prompted a stream of retailers and other businesses to shut locations.

Related:RetailTEC: FMI worked with federal authorities to thwart wave of grocery bomb threats