Britain's Co-op warns of record levels of grocery shoplifting 

Theft no longer concentrated on high-value goods such as tobacco and alcohol and extends to confectionary and baby food

Britain's Co-Op said theft and fraud cost it €38m in the first six months of the year, with retail crime up 35%.

Britain's Co-Operative Group, the mutually-owned supermarket, said it had recorded record levels of shoplifting this year and would invest in keeping prices low to help its customers in a cost-of-living crisis.

Co-Op, echoing the mounting alarm being expressed by peers at surging shoplifting, said theft and fraud in Britain had cost it £33m (€38m) in the first six months, with retail crime incidents at its stores up 35% year-on-year.