UNITED STATES - As the nation bands together to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, retailers are stepping up on safety measures. Recently, we reported Loblaw and Kroger were piloting one-way traffic for shoppers and enhancing precautionary measures through select stores. Now, it appears that more major chains are following suit. Walmart, Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and more announced they too will be launching new measures.
“Our priority has been and remains the health and safety of our team members, members, and communities. We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of our team members and we value the trust and confidence that our members have in us to provide them with essential services during this challenging time,” said Lee Delaney, President and Chief Executive Officer, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “We’ve implemented significant new protocols to help promote a healthy and safe environment for members and team members. We will continue to take precautions following guidelines and recommendations from health experts and relevant federal and state agencies.”
According to a press release, BJ’s announced it will be limiting the number of members allowed inside its club, citing no more than 20 percent of the store’s capacity at one time. The retailer will also be posting additional signage and implementing other processes to ensure team members’ safety. For more details, click here for the full press release.
Walmart U.S.’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dacona Smith also announced additional steps in slowing the spread. To ensure safe social distancing practices, the retailer will be regulating store entry, following the 20 percent capacity guidelines as well. Much like Kroger and Loblaw, Walmart will be instituting one-way traffic through the aisles in select stores.
“We always want people to feel welcome at Walmart, and we know that in ordinary times a store is a gathering place for members of a community to connect and socialize,” Smith stated in the update. “We look forward to the time when that is again the case; however, we now want to prioritize health and safety by encouraging customers to do their shopping at a distance from others, then head home.”
Effective as of this past Friday, April 3, Costco is limiting shoppers to two guests each membership card, according to its website. The warehouse operator has seen heavy traffic since the situation began and has continuously updated and implemented various procedures to ensure the safety of both its associates and customers, such as changing hours of operation, special operating hours for members over 60, and product limitations.
According to an update on its website, Schnucks Markets announced it will be limiting its customers to one shopper per household. Meijer also announced it too will be limiting shoppers to decrease customer count inside the store.
“We continue to look for additional ways to ensure the safety of our customers and team members in the face of this difficult challenge,” Meijer President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Keyes said in a press release. “By working together, we can reduce the spread of this virus and help keep our communities safe.”
As more news develops, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
