Abstract: A merchandise dispensing apparatus providing theft deterrence includes a product support defining a pathway for supporting a plurality of products in at least one column, and a dispenser mounted to an accessible portion of the product support for selectively presenting an associated lead product in the at least one column for removal from the product support. The dispenser is moveable between a first position blocking access to the product support, and a second position permitting access to the associated lead product in the at least one column while restricting access to any remaining associated products in the at least one column. The dispenser, when moved from the first position to the second position, is configured to move the associated lead product in a direction away from the product support.