Last updated on April 2nd, 2020
Grocers in the West are doing what they can to protect and reward their employees, who are on the front lines in the battle against Covid-19. Superior Grocers is making changes to protect its employees and customers, and Associated Food Stores (AFS) is giving its employees “Hero” bonuses.
Superior Grocers installing plexiglass guards
Superior Grocers is taking additional steps to help guard the health and safety of its customers and employees during the Covid-19 global pandemic. Currently, plexiglass guards are being installed at each checkstand at every store location.
Other steps include adhering to the social distance mandate, with signs posted throughout the store; check-out lines are identified with floor graphics designated six feet apart; and the company has added staff and shifts dedicated to cleaning the store
Based in Santa Fe Springs, California, Superior Grocers is one of the largest independently-owned chains of grocery stores in Southern California. It is open daily from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and has reserved the hour of 7-8 a.m. for seniors age 65 and older and the disabled.
Hero employees receive bonus for recent increase in demand
With the recent demands on grocery stores and the employees that support them, Salt Lake City, Utah-based Associated Food Stores (AFS) has found a tangible way to thank them for not just meeting but exceeding those sudden demands—Hero payments.
“Over the last month, our team members have gone above and beyond to serve our guests and communities. We recognize the vital role a grocer plays in the community, and at a time when the community needed us most our team members really became heroes,” said Tim Conner, SVP of AFS.
With the increased attention around Covid-19, grocery stores around the state saw a dramatic increase in demand for certain products including toilet paper, bottled water, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies.
This increase caused a ripple effect throughout the supply chain. Warehouses saw their order quantities increase and that boosted the need for additional trucks to deliver those loads.
Store teams worked hard to get the product off the trucks and onto the shelves. It was an effort that took cooperation from all parts of the chain.
“I’m so proud of our team. The way everyone came together to help support our communities was impressive. It’s the Associated way, and we will continue to work vigorously to do so,” said AFS CEO Neal Berube.
The Hero payments effort was one of many initiatives the company has deployed to help acknowledge and protect this new class of community “first responders.” Other efforts include Covid-19 education, social distancing policies and measures; intensified hand washing and sanitizing processes; modified store hours; new sick and related Covid-19 leave policies and procedures; and the recent installation of safety shields at all regular and pharmacy checkouts. The company is continuing to analyze and find additional ways to evolve its team and guest safety initiatives in light of the Covid-19 threat.
AFS currently serves more than 400 retailers across the intermountain West.
