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At a Glance
Organization: Freson Bros.
Industry: Grocery Retail
Locations: 16 grocery stores across Alberta, Canada
Staff: Over 1,000 employees
Key Solutions: Axon Body Workforce, Axon Evidence
Key Results
Increased employee confidence and perceived safety
Customer confrontations frequently de-escalate once body cameras are activated
Simplified evidence collection through automated docking and upload
Deployed across all 16 Alberta store locations
The Challenge
Like many retailers, Freson Bros. has experienced increasing theft, aggressive customer behavior, and safety concerns for frontline employees.
Rather than focusing solely on loss prevention, the organization wanted a way to better protect employees—particularly younger associates working evening shifts or closing stores on their own.
"It was more like, let's just protect our people," said Ryan Coutts, IT Director at Freson Bros. "We felt like if our cashiers are wearing a body cam, they're recording stuff, they should feel safer and more secure."
The company also needed a solution that could be easily managed across its 16 geographically dispersed locations without requiring local IT support.
The Solution
After initially testing consumer-grade body cameras, Freson Bros. transitioned to Axon Body Workforce paired with Axon Evidence.
For Ryan and his team, ease of deployment and evidence gathering was a deciding factor. Instead of manually connecting cameras and retrieving footage from stores located hours away, employees simply dock their cameras at the end of a shift.
"Just put it in the dock—I will get the video," Coutts said. "You don't have to connect it to a computer, you don't have to install some software. Just dock the camera and we're done."
The retailer first deployed cameras in several higher-traffic locations before expanding the program across all 16 stores. Cameras are typically assigned to security personnel, customer service associates, and evening managers.
Results
De-escalating Customer Interactions
The most noticeable impact wasn't on employees; it was on customers.
"The biggest behavior change was in the customers," said Coutts.
Employees found that simply activating the camera often diffused tense situations before they escalated. Customers who had been argumentative or lingering near service counters frequently chose to leave once they realized their interactions were being recorded.
The same visibility has also helped loss prevention staff issue trespass notices with confidence, supported by clear video and audio documentation.
Giving Employees Greater Confidence
For associates working evenings, especially younger employees closing stores, the cameras provide an added sense of security.
According to Coutts, the value isn't measured by how often footage is reviewed, but by employees knowing they have an objective record should an incident occur.
"They should feel safer and more secure," he said.
Trusted Evidence When It Matters
Although serious incidents are relatively uncommon, Freson Bros. has provided body camera footage to law enforcement on multiple occasions, including documenting an assault involving pepper spray.
The organization also uses footage to document customer incidents, helping preserve evidence for insurance claims while reducing administrative effort.
Looking Beyond Security
Freson Bros. is now exploring additional ways to use Body Workforce, including creating first-person training videos for new employees.
The team sees opportunities to demonstrate customer interactions, equipment maintenance, and operational procedures from an employee's perspective, creating more engaging training than traditional manuals alone.
Conclusion
For Freson Bros., success isn't measured by the number of arrests or confrontations—it's measured by the number of situations that never escalate.
By helping employees feel safer, discouraging inappropriate behavior, and simplifying evidence management, Axon Body Workforce has become an important part of the retailer's approach to employee safety.
For organizations considering body-worn cameras, Coutts encourages them to experience the technology firsthand.
"Try it out. The proof is there when you start using it," he said.