CINCINNATI, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Family
of Companies (NYSE: KR) today announced the adoption of customer
capacity limits to further encourage physical distancing in stores.
Beginning April 7, the retailer will
begin to limit the number of customers to 50% of the international
building code's calculated capacity to allow for proper physical
distancing in every store.
"Kroger's introduction of customer capacity limits is one more
way we are doing our part to flatten the curve while operating as
an essential business, providing our customers with access to
fresh, affordable food and products," said Mary Ellen Adcock, Kroger's senior vice
president of operations. "During this national pandemic, we are
committed to adopting preventive measures to help protect the
safety and health of our associates, customers and
communities."
As an illustration, the standard building capacity for a grocery
store is 1 person per 60 square feet. Under Kroger's new reduced
capacity limits, the number will be 1 person per 120 square feet.
Kroger will begin to monitor the number of customers per square
foot in its stores using its industry-leading QueVision technology,
which already provides a count of the customers entering and
exiting stores.
"By leveraging QueVision, our technology system that uses
infrared sensors and predictive analytics, we will be able to more
efficiently support our new capacity limits, creating a safer
environment for our customers and associates," said Yael Cosset,
Kroger's chief technology and digital officer.
Kroger's new customer capacity limits joins other measures the
retailer has established over the last few weeks to promote
physical distancing, including the addition of plexiglass
partitions and educational floor decals and airing of a healthy
habits message via in-store radio to encourage customers to
practice good hygiene and spatial awareness.
Kroger and its affiliates have also recently implemented the
following protective and preventive measures:
Protective Face Masks and Gloves for Associates
The
Kroger Family of Companies is encouraging associates to wear
protective masks and gloves. The retailer has ordered masks for
associates nationwide, with supply starting to arrive in select
regions and the anticipation of all locations having supply by the
end of this week.
Associate Wellness Checks
The Kroger Family of
Companies is asking associates to closely monitor their health and
take their temperature at home prior to coming to work. If they
experience symptoms, including a fever, they are encouraged to
contact their health care provider and stay home. Under its
expanded COVID-19 emergency leave guidelines, associates
self-isolating or experiencing symptoms as verified by an health
care professional are eligible to receive their standard pay for up
to two weeks (14 days).
The retailer started testing temperature checks in its
distribution centers several weeks ago and is beginning to expand
associate temperature checks to stores. Kroger and its affiliates
are following local ordinances in cities or counties that mandate
employee temperature checks, and associates may also request to
have their temperature taken at work.
Piloting One-Way Aisles in Select Markets
The Kroger
Family of Companies has started to test one-way aisles in select
markets to determine its effectiveness as a measure to further
support physical distancing.
Waived Prescription Delivery Fees
The Kroger Family of
Pharmacies is temporarily waiving fees for prescription delivery
via mail or courier. To learn more about the options and
availability, customers should contact their local pharmacy
location.
Continuing Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Commitment
As part of Kroger's commitment to end hunger and
eliminate waste in its communities by 2025, the retailer continues
to allow its customers to use reusable shopping bags, provided
there is not a state or local ordinance that prohibits use. The
retailer encourages its customers to frequently clean and wipe down
their reusable shopping bags to help maintain a safe shopping
environment.
Reduced Holiday Hours
The Kroger Family of Companies
is closing early on Easter Sunday, April
12, to provide its associates with more time to rest and be
with their families. Holiday operating hours will vary by location
and market.
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About The Kroger Co.
At The Kroger Co.
(NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our
Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are, across our family
of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over 11
million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience
under a variety of banner names. We are committed to creating
#ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us,
visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.