Chromium at the Financial Times

Each year, we publish a study identifying the most stolen products in Spanish supermarkets, offering insight into changing retail crime trends. This year’s findings attracted international attention after the Financial Times reported on them, highlighting a striking shift: olive oil has become the most shoplifted product across much of Spain.

Soaring prices, driven by prolonged droughts and extreme heat, have turned the staple “liquid gold” into a prime target for organized criminal gangs. In regions representing 70% of the population, including Madrid, Catalonia, and Andalusia, supermarkets report that olive oil now tops theft rankings, surpassing traditional high-value items such as ibérico ham. Prices have more than quadrupled in four years, rising from €2.13 per kilogram in early 2020 to €8.88, with retail prices reaching up to €14 per litre, prompting resale on the black market rather than theft driven by hunger. Security firms note that gangs use specialized tools to bypass anti-theft devices, while producers have also suffered large-scale robberies, underscoring how inflation and climate-related crop failures have reshaped retail crime patterns in Spain.

Exhibitor Data Sheet