Back in 2001, the first edition of the ECR Europe shrinkage report quantified the scale and scope of shrinkage due to stock loss in the European consumer goods sector, which amounted to 2.3 % of annual turnover in 2003. The ECR Europe project on shrinkage subsequently analysed the causes of stock loss and proposed a systematic and collaborative approach to reducing the phenomenon throughout the supply chain ("shrinkage roadmap").

This second edition of the ECR Shrinkage Blue Book updates the original report with the introduction of tried and tested methods for shrinkage reduction, including an improved roadmap and the necessary tools to carry out its various steps. The effectiveness of this collaborative approach is demonstrated through its application in five case studies at retailer and manufacturer locations across Europe.