Foodstuffs responds to the Government’s announcement to move to Alert Level 3 of the National Pandemic Plan
FSNZ
New Zealand is now in the
Government-enforced restriction phase of the national plan designed
to stem the spread of COVID-19. These are extraordinary times and
if we are to protect our people then extreme measures do need to be
taken.
Our New World, PAK'nSAVE, Four Square, Gilmour's and Trent's
stores remain 100% committed to ensuring New Zealanders have their
grocery needs met and we are doing everything we can to make this
happen with the support of Government and the authorities including
Ministry of Health and Police.
Supermarkets are one of the Government-identified essential
services and will remain open and able to meet the needs of New
Zealanders. But please know, the alert Level 3 status will now
impact how our stores will operate:
Reduced store hours
Individual stores will determine their own operating hours and may
choose to reduce them to cope with the heightened measures now in
place. Individual stores will make this call based on the needs of
their community and to ensure customers and staff maintain the
recommended physical distance of at least 1.5m apart. Customers
should visit the brand website or their local store's Facebook page
to stay across their supermarkets trading hours.
Staff protection measures
Customers will begin to see various staff protection measures in
place at their local store including staff wearing masks, perspex
protective screens at checkout, and floor decals communicating the
appropriate 1.5m physical distancing length. We ask all customers
to please comply with store signage and staff direction to maintain
physical distancing.
Community shopping hours
We're in communication with elderly support groups and they have
told us specific shopping hours aren't what they are looking for,
it is also not aligned with Ministry of Health guidance for the
over 70s to stay at home. The most important message here is for
customers to #shopnormal, so there is product on the shelves for
the elderly when friends and relatives are shopping for them.
Nominate a family member to shop
To comply with physical distancing recommendations, and to ensure
there is a steady flow of traffic in and out of stores within our
'one in, one out' system, we are asking New Zealanders who shop in
person to please shop alone. This is to ensure the number of people
in-store at any one time is kept to a minimum - by leaving your
loved ones at home you are helping keep them safe.
Contactless payments
We encourage customers to use contactless payments such as payWave
as another was of reducing contact between customers and staff.
Help us keep you safe.
#shopnormal
We continue to ask customers not stockpile; this is so everyone
has a fair shot at buying their grocery essentials. When someone
buys five packs of toilet paper, and they only need one, they are
taking away from four other people who may have needed it. Some
customers might not have the resources to buy up or the ability to
visit the store every day. Please buy what you need and be fair to
others.
Be kind
We are asking New Zealand to please support us as we work hard to
continue meeting our goal of ensuring everyone has access to
grocery essentials. We ask that all customers please remain patient
and considerate to each other and staff during this time.
Foodstuffs has seen New Zealand through trying times before and
we'll continue to be there for New Zealanders during this trying
time. Please be patient, considerate and kind and we'll get through
this together.
Kia kaha.
#shopnormal
