Central England Co-op has today asked customers to ‘co-operate’ with its new social distancing measures to help keep each other safe.
The retailer has put in place a set of new rules for anyone who enters its shops in line with Government recommendations to help safeguard colleagues and everyone else around them.
The new measures include:
• Stores will only be using every other till point or checkout to keep customers and colleagues a safe distance apart
• Special markings will be installed in front of till points and checkouts of at least one meter. If a customer needs to enter this area to place down a basket or use the keypad, colleagues will move backwards to maintain a safe distance
• Special markings will be installed to showcase two-meter safe distances while queueing at till points
• Customers are asked to pay with card or contactless if possible
• Specialist cleaning products will be used to regularly wipe down the countertops and chip, chip and pin machines and ATMs
• Special markings will be installed throughout stores to showcase to customers two metre spacing and customers are asked to maintain these distances while shopping
• Store managers have been given discretion to limit the amount of customers allowed in stores at any time to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to. Additional security guards will also be deployed to help stores support this new policy
• Special markings will be installed outside stores so customers queuing to enter maintain safe distances of two meters
Debbie Robinson, Central England Co-op Chief Executive, said, “Nothing is more important to us all at Central England Cooperative than the safety of our colleagues and customers.
“We’re closely following Government advice in our approach to social distancing and have now rolled out a range of new measures for our stores.
“We now ask all of our customers to co-operate with these measures to keep us all safe and allow us to continue to serve our communities.”
Central England Co-op is also asking all customers to show ‘care, compassion and respect’ to its colleagues as they work around the clock to serve their communities.
The retailer is asking people to come together and support its front-line colleagues who are going above and beyond to replenish stock levels and keep stores open.
In its food stores, the Society has also put in place a temporary limit of two of every product to help maintain stock levels but has reassured customers that there are no issues with its robust supply lines and that shops are getting daily deliveries.