The supermarket chain, that has been subject to a series of attacks over the last year including one from a machete wielding gang, said incidents had soared by 44 per cent.
The squad of analysts will be tasked with identifying and targeting the organised criminal gangs blamed for fuelling a 37 per cent increase in UK shoplifting in a year.
The 88 companies, who also include WH Smith, Aldi , Primark and Superdrug, have written to the Government to demand action as Britain s shoplifting epidemic spirals out of control.