If you are particularly careful when shopping, you may have already discovered it: a ribbon next to the doors of the supermarket. Among other things rewe uses the stripes at the entrances and exits of its branches, as also noticed by some users on Reddit.
The color bar is laterally attached to the edges of the doors and is divided into four fields: red, black, yellow and green. “Anyone know what use they serve? Why these colors?” asks a Reddit user in an older discussion thread. Many of the answers back then were rather joking. “So you don’t run into the glass”, was one suggestion. Others thought this meant the rainbow flag, which is usually glued to the corner of the glass pane. But there is a much more serious reason behind it.
What does this color bar mean? Rewe customers puzzle over details at the exit
It is about a height marker, as was already occasionally suspected under the old Reddit post. As the question a few weeks ago reappeared on the platform – this time including a picture – even expressed himself a spokesman for the Rewe Group to. “The markings have been an integral part of our safety and prevention strategy in all our markets for many years. They help to facilitate the size description of a possible culprit“He confirmed when asked by “tz”.
The answer below the latest Reddit post explains that “security strategy” a little more precisely. The color bar is placed at a certain height above the ground, for example 1.50 metres. Each swatch is in turn 10 centimeters high. So when it comes to describing a shoplifter or robber, you can better judge the size. “How big was the culprit? Green or Yellow”, gave one Reddit user as an example. The whole thing can then be easily converted, depending on the height at which the bar is attached. If the ribbon goes off at 1.50 meters and the perpetrator sticks up to “green”, you know that he is over 1.80 meters tall.
Ideally, a thief can do the same without concrete testimonies be identified. The color bar trick seems to have worked for Rewe. Also branches of penny, also part of the Rewe Group, use the band on the doors. Where the idea came from and why these colors were chosen remains unclear. It can at least be assumed that the colors red, black, yellow and green are used because they are concise and easy to distinguish – and also go well with the color scheme of Rewe or Penny.
