Local retailers ramp up cleaning and clamp down on overbuying with new COVID-19 policies
Local grocery stores and other retailers are stepping up efforts to combat people’s fears about catching coronavirus while shopping.
Late Wednesday, Fred Meyer issued a statement outlining steps it was taking to ramp up hygiene in its stores and with its carts as well as grapple with supply-chain issues as a result of panic-induced shopping for items such as toilet paper.
According to its press statement issued Wednesday evening, the retailer “took the precautionary step on March 2 to limit the number of cold, flu and sanitary products per order so everyone can have access to the items they need.
“We activated our preparedness plan several weeks ago.”
Actions the retailer said it has taken include stepped up cleaning of cashier stations, self-checkouts, credit card terminals, conveyor belts and food service counters, as well as cleaning shelves when restocking products as well as wiping down grocery carts.
It continues to offer free disinfectant wipes at store entrances and is “providing hand sanitizer and tissues in breakrooms and meeting rooms,” according to its statement.
The retailer also is:
▪ “Asking our associates to stay home if they, or someone in their household, are sick.”
▪ Providing financial support from its Helping Hands fund – a company-sponsored employee assistance fund – to associates who may be directly affected.
▪ Suspending business air travel for associates through March 31 and recommending virtual meetings.
Fred Meyer isn’t alone in its efforts.
Target’s CEO Brian Cornell issued a statement Wednesday on what its stores are doing, including limiting purchases of key items to ease shortages.
In the Tacoma area on Tuesday evening, at least one Target store was sold out of thermometers, cough drops, certain over-the-counter cold medicines and nasal spray, as coronavirus prep has run into the area’s continuing flu season.
“On top of our daily cleaning procedures, we’re adding hours to each store’s payroll to make our routines even more rigorous. This means more time will be spent cleaning our stores, including cleaning surfaces like check lanes and touchscreens at least every 30 minutes,” according to the Target statement.
Walmart has created a COVID-19 emergency leave plan for its workers, waiving attendance policies through the end of April. Its store managers also have been given the option to limit the number of high-demand items sold on a store-by-store basis, depending on demand.
In a statement March 10, the retailer said: “We have increased associate focus on cleaning and have dedicated an associate to maintain key areas throughout the day. We’ve seen increased foot traffic, so we’re sending additional cleaning supplies for use in places like the registers and on shopping carts.
“Looking forward, we are pursuing easier ways to sanitize shopping carts. We also have plans in place for third-party sanitization should it be needed for a store impacted by the virus. And we are evaluating whether to modify store hours at some 24-hour facilities to allow for additional cleaning.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 10:34 AM.
