Shoppers Drug Mart is quietly adding security gates to stores across Canada

Shoppers Drug Mart locations across the country are starting to look a bit different as the brand deploys security gates to its stores across Canada in an effort to fight retail crime.

Security gates have been popping up at locations of the Loblaw-owned pharmacy brand nationwide for the past few months, following similar installations introduced to Loblaw-owned supermarket chains en masse since 2023.

Building permit applications for stores across Toronto have been appearing recently, seeking renovations to existing Shoppers Drug Mart locations, all highlighting renovations which would add security barriers to store entrances and exits.

City of Toronto

A Loblaw spokesperson confirmed to blogTO that the rollout of security gates is occurring coast to coast.

"Our goal is always to provide a safe experience for our customers and store staff," says the Loblaw representative. 

"To that end, we have started rolling out security gates in select Shoppers Drug Mart locations across the country as we continue to look for ways to combat retail crime, without negatively impacting the in-store experience."

Loblaw's introduction of similar anti-theft infrastructure at supermarkets was met with outrage from the general public.

The backlash proved to be a thorn in the grocery giant's side amid an already dicey few years, public opinion-wise, that included a full-on revolt against Loblaw's high prices and profits in the hundreds of millions, which prompted mass boycotts Canada-wide.