Grocery retailers must continue to prioritize the health and safety of consumers and workers while remaining flexible during uncertain times
Grocery retail is proving to be a vital and tenacious societal link as the country deals with the escalating impact of the novel coronavirus. States under varying degrees of closures have deemed grocery workers as essential, allowing stores to stay open in order to serve their local communities. While the initial consumer scramble to stockpile food and other essentials caused a demand-supply imbalance, grocers have battled through the demand shock and the food supply chain has proven resilient. Stores are working expediently, with visibly accelerated sanitation and crowd control. Most have already shifted workers into the most important roles, hired new associates, and speedily rolled out safety training. The food industry workforce is doing a heroic job during these trying times.
During this unfolding humanitarian crisis, grocery retailers will need to continue to prioritize the health and safety of consumers and workers, while remaining flexible as this situation develops.
We outline some advice from our experts on how to adapt in this ever-changing environment.