Grocery Chain Wegmans Defends Collection of Biometric Data in Some Stores

The New York-based chain said facial recognition technology is deployed in only a small number of higher-risk stores and is not used to track ordinary shoppers.

A sign is attached to the outside of a Wegmans supermarket in Westwood, Mass., on Dec. 20, 2022. Steven Senne/AP Photo

Wegmans Food Markets said on Jan. 7 that it uses facial recognition technology in a limited number of higher-risk stores to deter misconduct, responding to growing scrutiny from the public and demands from New York lawmakers for greater transparency about biometric surveillance in grocery stores.

The Rochester, New York-based grocery chain said in a statement that the facial recognition technology is deployed only in “a small fraction” of its locations that have higher security risks and is used only to identify individuals previously flagged for misconduct, not to track or profile ordinary shoppers.

“At Wegmans, the safety of our customers and employees is a top priority,” the company said in the statement. “Like many retailers, we use cameras to help identify individuals who pose a risk to our people, customers, or operation.”

The statement came after new signage appeared in several Wegmans stores in New York City this month notifying customers that biometric identifiers—including facial recognition scans—may be collected and stored while they shop. Photos of the signs circulated on social media, prompting questions from state and local officials about the scope of Wegmans’ biometric practices.

The notices state that Wegmans “collects, retains, converts, stores or shares customers’ biometric identifier information” that may include facial recognition, eye scans, and voiceprints, and that the data may be used to “help identify you” in order to protect store security.

Wegmans said on Jan. 7 that the language on the signs reflects compliance with New York City laws, which require retailers to notify customers when biometric technologies are in use. The company also said that it does not use facial recognition data widely and does not collect other forms of biometric information such as retinal scans or voice prints.

“Images and video are retained only as long as necessary for security purposes and then disposed of,” Wegmans said. “We do not share facial recognition scan data with any third party.”

The grocery chain also acknowledged concerns about accuracy and bias in facial recognition systems, saying it has training and safety measures in place to mitigate those risks.

Notice Sparks Scrutiny

The signage has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers in New York, where biometric surveillance has become a contentious issue amid broader debates over data privacy and consumer consent.

In a Jan. 4 letter to Wegmans leadership, Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart urged the company to reconsider what she described as its “routine” use of biometric surveillance in grocery stores, describing legally mandated disclosures as insufficient.

“Wegmans has built its brand on trust and community connection,” Barnhart wrote. “That trust depends on transparency that meets people where they are—not disclosures they discover only because a city law forces the issue.”

Calling biometric data “uniquely sensitive,” Barnhart said that “the burden of transparency and restraint should be exceptionally high.”

A similar letter was sent on Jan. 5 by New York State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, who said she was “deeply concerned” by reports that biometric technology was being used in Wegmans’ New York City stores.

Rosenthal asked Wegmans leadership whether biometric data is collected at store locations outside New York City, how customers are notified, and whether they can opt out. She also sought assurances that biometric information is not sold or shared and asked what cybersecurity safeguards the company has in place.

“As technology evolves, consumers are facing security threats and data privacy concerns everywhere they turn,” she wrote. “They should not also have to worry about their biometric information being collected, used and stored by their local grocery store.”

In its statement, Wegmans said the facial recognition system is used solely as a security tool and that the company does not rely on a single data point to make decisions.

“Our goal is simple—to keep our stores safe and secure,” Wegmans said.