The security and safety of retail workers has been under the microscope following the stabbings last week at Countdown Dunedin Central.
First Union is working with Countdown on improved safety measures in its supermarkets following the attack.
Yesterday Foodstuffs, which owns Pak’nSave, New World and Four Square, confirmed it had also experienced a rise in incidents in its stores.
Head of corporate affairs Antoinette Laird said it was unacceptable for people to be exposed to violence at work and the company had extended its support to Countdown.
"We have an absolute accountability to our teams and customers to do what we can to keep them safe, and this incident has brought into sharp focus what we need to be doing in the future to keep everyone safe in our stores.
"We are investigating all options available to us including technology such as CCTV and facial recognition."
Facial recognition was already being used in some stores to identify shoplifters.
But she refused to say if the company was considering expanding its use to more stores.
