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Supermarket peep: Shoppers filmed at Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Boots to make them spend more

British shoppers were reportedly filmed in supermarkets (Picture: PA)
British shoppers were reportedly filmed in supermarkets (Picture: PA)

Shoppers in some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets have been filmed in an effort to make them spend more cash, it has been reported.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Boots and the Co-op commissioned a team of behavioural experts to record customers in their stores, the Daily Mail reported.

It said an agency called SBXL filmed customers in a bid to manipulate their future behaviour when browsing. Some footage was placed on its public YouTube channel.

The firm insists it posted clear signs for shoppers and that their consent to be filmed was obtained.

But it was reported that the Information Commissioner’s Office will investigate to check if data protection laws were breached.

ICO director of investigations Steve Eckersley said: “The Daily Mail’s investigation has highlighted concerns about the use of CCTV. We will be examining the material provided and making appropriate inquiries.”

YouTube videos on SBXL’s public channel showed footage of customers in stores, some of which had remained on the channel for eight years, according to the newspaper.

It was reported that Tesco had its customers filmed (Picture: PA)
It was reported that Tesco had its customers filmed (Picture: PA)

The Mail claimed SBXL’s sales chief, Andy Bromley, showed an undercover reporter footage taken in UK shops, telling her: “These people don’t know they’re being filmed.”

A spokeswoman for SBXL told the Mail that it had “never carried out covert recording of customers in stores” with research “only ever carried out with the full co-operation from the public involved”.

Boots said it had been “let down” by SBXL and would not be working with the firm again.

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The retailer said in a statement: “When conducting research for Boots, SBXL were under a contractual obligation to comply with all data privacy laws, keep any information gathered confidential and destroy it after the project had finished.

“Clear signage and highly visible cameras were in place in the area of the store where the SBXL market research was happening and at no point were hidden cameras used, nor was filming hidden from customers. Further, all customer data was intended to be used for research purposes only.

“We work hard to ensure our processes are robust but whenever anything happens we will learn from it to make them tighter still. We’ve been let down by SBXL who have breached the terms of their contract with us by using our research clips in their promotional material and as a result we will not be working with them again.”

Sainsbury's used an agency to film its customers, a report said (Picture: PA)
Sainsbury's used an agency to film its customers, a report said (Picture: PA)

Sainsbury’s said: “We do not work with this company and have never had a direct relationship with them.

“SBXL has assured us that they have deleted all data captured in Sainsbury’s stores and removed all references to Sainsbury’s from its website and YouTube channel.”

Danone said: “We have not worked with this company for several years and have no current relationship with them. All our suppliers are contractually required to operate in an ethical way and ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, including data protection regulations.”

Tesco said it “does not covertly film customers in stores nor would we allow any other company to do so”.

In a statement, it added: “Protecting the privacy of customers is paramount to us. When filming does take place in our stores we have strong protocols to follow to ensure we display signs advising that filming is taking place and that we comply with data protection obligations in relation to the use of this footage.

“We worked with SBXL on a one-off trial in 2011 during which a number of customers gave permission to take part in a series of interviews. We have not worked with SBXL since.”

A Co-op spokesman said: “Protecting our customers’ privacy is a priority and we have strict data protection policies, which include being clear with people about how their information is being used and making sure it’s only seen by the right people.

“We have only used SBXL for two limited trials, lastly in January 2018, and both times clear customer signage was in place, in line with the Market Research Society’s Code of Conduct rules and Data Protection legislation. All footage was deleted within three months and SBXL have confirmed that no images from this were posted online.”