Prevent Shrink. Eliminate Waste. Protect Every Dollar of Profit.
In food and retail operations, every product that disappears through theft, waste, error, or inefficiency erodes profit. Shrinkage and total loss don’t just hurt margins; they distort financial reporting, inflate costs, and weaken brand performance.
Mershimer Group’s Shrinkage & Total Loss Prevention programs are designed to help executives gain visibility into where and why losses occur. Our experts combine data analytics, on-site assessments, and process optimization to help our clients develop measurable improvements in accuracy, accountability, and profitability across the enterprise.
What Do We Mean by Total Loss?
Inventory Shrinkage & Total Loss Control requires a comprehensive approach that targets both controllable and uncontrollable losses, including theft, spoilage, waste, fraud, cash theft, markdowns, and many other operational and administrative errors. By addressing every contributor to loss, our programs strengthen financial health and operational consistency system-wide.In contrast, Inventory Shrinkage only focuses on inventory loss caused by various contributors.
Through our tailored audits and monitoring systems, brands can:
- Identify root causes of inventory and revenue loss
- Quantify shrink and waste impact by location or department
- Implement corrective action plans that drive measurable results
- Reduce operational risk and reinforce profit protection culture
Our Total Loss Control Services
We provide our clients with full or supplemental loss prevention programs, which typically include the following:
- POS Exception-Based Reporting Support
- Third-Party Loss Prevention Auditing
- Food Cost and Yield Analysis, creating a Key Risk Indicator to identify where to focus program efforts and resources
- Loss investigations and resolution of employee, customer, and other causes of retail crime.
- Centralized LP Operations Center to manage CCTV, Alarms, EAS, and other systems for our clients.
- High shrink/target store programs
- Digital and print loss prevention employee awareness publication and support.
These outsourced field and corporate loss prevention third-party outsourced programs drive significant payroll and expense improvements while providing many times the field staff and other resources than your internal loss prevention budget can provide.
Inventory Shrink Analysis
Deep-dive evaluations into variances between reported and actual inventory to uncover operational blind spots.
Theft & Fraud Detection, Investigation, and resolution.
Identify internal theft, vendor fraud, and refund manipulation through transaction-level data analytics and scorecarding. We then investigate these frauds/incidents, and work with the client and law enforcement to mitigate.
Process & Procedure Auditing
Assess receiving, storage, waste, and reconciliation procedures for accuracy and accountability.
Waste & Spoilage Prevention
Implement process improvements and training to minimize product loss in food service environments.
Continuous Monitoring & KPI Reporting
Deploy ongoing loss dashboards and exception-based analytics for real-time visibility and faster response.
Why Food & Retail Brands Choose Mershimer Group
Proven LP Expertise
100+ years of combined experience protecting profits for global restaurant and retail brands.
Data-Driven Insight
Multi-layered analytics pinpoint high-risk areas before they affect the bottom line.
Nationwide Field Team
2,000+ certified auditors and investigators across North America.
End-to-End Solutions
From discovery to prevention and employee engagement, we create sustainable change.
Common Loss Drivers We Identify
- Internal and external theft
- Food waste and improper portioning
- Administrative or POS reporting errors
- Vendor fraud and receiving discrepancies
- Inventory mismanagement and procedural lapses
The ROI of Total Loss Control
Brands that implement Shrinkage & Total Loss Control programs often see:
- Shrink reduction of 10–30% within the first year
- 1–3% margin improvement through cost recovery
- Increased accountability and a culture of prevention
- Stronger visibility into true operational performance
Total Loss Control FAQs
What does “total loss” include beyond inventory shrink?
Total loss covers all controllable and uncontrollable loss types—including theft, waste, spoilage, vendor fraud, and administrative errors that impact profitability.
How does Mershimer Group measure and reduce total loss?
We combine data analytics, on-site audits, and operational assessments to identify root causes, recommend solutions, and track performance improvements over time.
What’s the typical ROI from total loss control programs?
Most clients experience measurable shrink reduction within six months and sustained margin improvement of 1–3% annually.
How often should inventory and loss control audits be conducted?
Quarterly reviews are ideal for high-volume operations, while annual systemwide audits ensure long-term accountability and control.
Does Mershimer Group provide training for store-level teams?
Yes. We integrate training and awareness tools to ensure employees understand their role in preventing shrink and maintaining accurate inventory.
Protect What You Earn. Control What You Can Measure.
Loss control isn’t just about recovery. It’s about prevention.
Contact Mershimer Group today to learn how our Total Loss Control & Third Party Loss Prevention Program Outsourcing can reduce shrinkage, eliminate waste, and improve profitability across your brand.