Wegmans Gives Selectmen a Run Down on Alcohol Security

Representatives from Wegmans, the high-end grocery store that will be the anchor for the 3rd Ave. project, spoke to the Burlington Board of Selectmen on Monday night about the store's security and alcohol policies. 

Wegman's, which has signed a 30 year lease with Nordblom with options to renew, is planning to build a 135,000 square foot facility with adjacent parking for 800 vehicles. The plans include a 14,000 square foot mezzanine overlooking a food court, an outdoor café and outdoor cooking classes. 

Wegmans will also be the first grocery store in town to sell alcohol, including beer, wine and spirits. 

Bill Congdon, the head of Wegmans’ New England Operations, along with three other representatives, spoke to the board about the store's alcohol sales. 

First, he said, Wegman's target customer is people looking to match wine, beer and spirits with the food they are purchasing at the store. He said sales representatives will be on hand to help make suggestions and guide customers through the process of pairing food and drinks. 

Congdon said the majority of the alcohol will be in one section of the store, which will be roped off during those times when alcohol sales are prohibited. He also said that the store is planning to hire enough managers and people in leadership positions to properly manage the store and to ensure proper alcohol compliance. 

In total, Congdon said the store will hire between 600 and 650 employees, including 230 full time positions. There will also be five store manager, 17 department managers and in total about 110 leaders to manage employees. 

Wegmans representatives also said that every employee who deals with alcohol sales will be trained on how to properly check identifications. The store will automatically accept six forms of ID. If someone has a type of identification not on the list, such as out of state licenses or passports from other countries, a manger will intervene and use a computer to verify the validity of the identification. The store also checks the age of anyone attempting to purchase alcohol, no matter what age they appear to be. 

The store will also be equipped with surveillance cameras, a system that checks the under-part of grocery carts to ensure nobody is stealing merchandise, including alcohol, and a system where if an employee below the age necessary to sell alcohol scans an alcohol purchase the register will lock up until an of-age leader comes to complete the transaction. 

Wegman's asset protection regional manager for the area said that these systems, which are used in the Northborough store, have been successful. She said that since that store opened in the fall of 2011, there have been 124 shoplifting incidents and only seven that involved alcohol. The store is only aware of one case involving a minor and he was caught in the act. 

The board, along with Town Administrator John Petrin, seemed impressed by the store's security procedures. Petrin, Chair of the Board Robert Hogan and Chief of Police Michael Kent previously toured the Northborough store and both Petrin and Hogan said the system was impressive in person. 

The one concern was raised by Selectman Daniel Grattan, who said that rather than just roping off the alcohol section during those times when sales are prohibited, he would prefer the alcohol be locked up. Selectman Ralph Patuto agreed. 

"It's a great idea to have them locked up," Patuto said.