Local grocery stores support customers and staff
By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As a result, Strathmore grocery stores are changing operations to help staff and members of the public cope with the challenges posed by the virus.
Some stores have implemented quantity limits on high demand items, such a toilet paper, cleaning supplies and select food items such as meats. As well, efforts have been made to limit areas or amenities that could represent a higher risk of transmission, including the closing of seating areas, in-store sampling and self-serve installations for food items, including bulk bakery cases and salad bars.
Sobeys Strathmore is offering temporary curb-side pickup services. Orders are placed online via a curbside pick-up order form that, if received by 6 p.m., will be ready the following day. A minimum $50 purchase is required, paid via debit card only, and all tobacco, lottery and gift card products are not eligible for pick up. Walmart is also offering grocery home deliveries, which may be ordered online.
Strathmore grocery stores are also working to help seniors and people with disabilities avoid crowds by providing times for them to shop. While these businesses are not prohibiting others from visiting during these times, they are asking other community members to shop outside these hours if possible.
The hours for these dedicated shopping periods vary: Shoppers Drug Mart, 9 to 10 a.m.; Tina’s No Frills, 8 to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Strathmore Sobeys, 7 to 8 a.m.; Co-op, 8 to 9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; Walmart, 7 to 8 a.m. on weekdays.
To ensure staff has adequate time to stock shelves and clean and sanitize, stores have reduced regular hours for the time being: Sobeys, Co-op (including dedicated shopping periods) and Walmart are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, while No Frills is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
To help staff better cope, grocery stores are working to better compensate staff facing increased customer volume and potential exposure to the virus.
Calgary Co-op (Strathmore) has developed a program to reward frontline employees for their efforts: all hourly frontline team members are receiving a $2.50 per hour “salary booster” retroactive to March 8 until May 2, 2020. They will also receive additional discounts and offers, including a $100 gift card for union members.
For Tina’s No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw Companies Limited announced a temporary compensation increase for store and distribution centre employees by “approximately 15 per cent,” retroactive to March 8.
Sobeys employees will benefit from the company’s Hero Pay Program, which includes an additional $50 a week, regardless of the hours worked, and an additional $2 per hour premium for all hours over 20 hours. The program is retroactive to March 8 and will be reassessed at the end of April.