Dear Valued Guest:
Your safety and the safety of our team members is our top priority. We continue to follow the guidance from The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization, and Food & Drug Administration in every decision we are making.
As part of continuing to communicate with you during this time, we wanted to update you on all of the additional measures we are taking in our stores, for our team members, and in the community.
Additional Safety Measures in our Stores
Here are just some of the measures we have implemented to improve the shopping environment in our stores and to help assist with the six-foot physical distancing guidance:
- Dedicating full time team members to help with the enhanced cleaning and disinfection taking place throughout the store, including wiping down carts and baskets, as well as other high touchpoint areas.
- Physical distancing visual guidance has been placed throughout the store, including at checkout and service counters. We have also rearranged and removed product displays to create more space.
- Plexiglass guard installation at the registers has been rolled out this week to all of our stores and will be completed by April 5.
- Contactless credit card checkout where no signature is required.
- Asking guests to load their own groceries if they would like to use their recyclable bags from home.
- Designated reserved shopping hours of weekdays at 8 AM – 9 AM for those in the CDC high risk categories.
- Increasing curbside pick-up locations for online ordering.
- Pre-packaging items previously sold in bulk or at self-serve bars, such as olives. We will continue to evaluate each category and will make further adjustments as needed.
- Secured additional distribution and supply chain avenues to maintain deliveries and minimize out of stock items that are in higher demand.
Facemasks and Gloves
Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced the agency has updated its guidance regarding face masks, recommending that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Additionally, the CDC emphasized that surgical masks and medical respirators be preserved for health care providers.
In light of this new guidance, our store teams may wear cloth face coverings. For our guests who would like to do so as well, the CDC has posted instructions for making cloth face coverings, which can be found here.
We are reviewing other personal protection decisions, such as whether it is prudent to have team members wear gloves, other than those who already wear gloves for food preparation. The CDC has not changed their recommendation on this, since coronavirus is spread through droplets and gloves therefore would not mitigate the transmission of this disease. The handwashing guidance given to our team members, as well as protective shields at the registers, currently offer the best protection for both our cashiers and guests.
Taking Care of Team Members
When the threat of coronavirus first began to emerge, we immediately established a taskforce to set up detailed protocols and processes. This includes enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols, as well as specific steps team members should take for their wellbeing, their coworkers and our guests.
If a team member is not feeling well, they are instructed not to come to work. If they are experiencing symptoms consistent with coronavirus, we have activated a 24/7 team member COVID-19 response line, which enables us to track the health of all of our associates specific to coronavirus.
Any team member who is required to undergo mandatory quarantine qualifies to receive our emergency COVID-19 pay where they receive their regular pay for up to 14 days.
It is also important to recognize our team members for their extra efforts during this time, and we are thanking them with additional health benefits, food purchase discounts and compensation.
Taking Care of the Community
In addition to hiring team members from the heavily impacted hospitality and restaurant industry, we are also on a mission to donate Five Million Meals in our communities through our partner Feeding America. Every dollar raised helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks. Ninety percent of the funds raised stay in The Fresh Market’s local communities.
Guests can elect to donate to Feeding America in increments of $1.00, $5.00 or any other amount at checkout through the end of April. The Fresh Market’s team members and guests can also donate online at www.feedingamerica.org/thefreshmarket-covid.
Please reach out to The Fresh Market guest care team using our online feedback form or call us at 866-817-4367 or 336-389-5795 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (Eastern Time) with any questions.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in us.
Sincerely,
Jason Potter
President and CEO
The Fresh Market