New European Retail Security Division

Evolution, the integrated fire and security business, has launched a new division specifically to provide a sophisticated range of intelligent Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) solutions to retail customers across the UK and Europe.

The division, headed up by Philip McKelvey, will build on the company's existing portfolio of retail customers by delivering both 'traditional' and 'next-generation' systems to protect assets before, during and even after they leave a store.

As well as the more obvious 'physical' security, such as CCTV, access control and intruder alarm systems that Evolution already provides, it will also be extending its services into 'consumables' including the very latest security tags and labels to fully audit the product journey from the point of manufacture.

Its solutions will particularly help in reducing incidents of shoplifting and shrinkage, as well as a growing trend to replace 'genuine' high-cost items with counterfeited goods when they are returned.

Philip, who has worked in retail security for almost 20 years, believes that Evolution will be able to provide a service that is genuinely 'new': "Since we are not tied to any one manufacturer, we can provide best-advice and consultancy on all aspects of security, working with the latest technologies from the UK and Europe.

"Basic RF labels are increasingly being replaced by RFID tags with built-in intelligence that is taking security to another level," he continues. "Evolution has identified an opportunity to build on its existing track record and focus on new areas of product security that meet the challenges of retailers both now and in the future."

The new retail division will be based in Chelmsford.