Covid-19: Safety Tips for Food Retailers

Efforts are being made to tighten Covid-19 restrictions in Britain following the discovery of a coronavirus variant, Omicron. Businesses are concerned that the Omicron variant might adversely affect holiday sales, even though it is not yet clear how deadly it will be - and further analysis could take weeks. What is certain is what we have learnt in the last couple of years about employee and customer safety. To ensure that both your customers and staff feel comfortable in your store, it is essential to prioritize safety. This is why we will use this opportunity to review the government guidelines so that all parties involved have a satisfactory experience.

Contact Management

As a result of retail visits, it is our objective to minimize customer contact. Managing contacts is essential to this process.

• A maximum number of customers can be acceptable within any store and outdoor selling areas where social distancing guidelines are observed (2m if feasible, or 1m with risk mitigation).
• To maximize the floor space, consider possible congestion points and busy areas and limit the number of customers in particular areas, such as entryways between interior and exterior spaces.
• As visitors enter the premises, promote the use of hand sanitiser and handwashing amenities to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria from touching products.
• Any changes to entrances, exits, and queue management must include reasonable adjustments for customers with disabilities.

Advice & Guidance

By providing and explaining available guidance, people can better understand what they need to do to maintain safety.

• Provide visual indicators, such as signs, at the arrival point so people can better understand social distance and hygiene.
• Providing accurate information to visitors, such as explaining queue sizes or locations, while maintaining their safety. 
• For identification purposes, customers may be asked to remove face coverings by police or staff.

Ventilation

To ensure that all parts of the building have access to fresh air, the ventilation in the building should be optimized whenever possible.

• By adjusting the fan speed, we can increase the existing ventilation rate.
• When people are present in the building, the ventilation system should be turned on.
• Follow manufacturer instructions when monitoring and managing filters.
• If possible, keep doors and windows open.

Restrooms

This is to ensure that toilets are kept clean and to promote good hygiene, social distancing, and sanitation in toilet facilities

• Placards and signs can be used to promote good handwashing techniques and frequent hand washing, as well as educating on not touching one's face, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue that can be thrown away responsibly, or into either arm if they don't have one.
• Whenever queues form, socially isolate those areas, and if small spaces are available, adopt a one-in, one-out policy   
• Make sure the facilities are well ventilated by keeping the doors open where necessary.  
• Making the cleaning schedule visible and updating it regularly. Expanding waste facilities and increasing trash collection frequency are also options that can help with safety and maintaining a clean environment.

In these current uncertain and fearful times, it is all the more important to provide consumers with a place they can feel welcome, comfortable, and most importantly, at ease. Be sure that your visitors, contractors, and workers are aware of COVID-19 safety precautions. Having the company's socials and website provide information about the safety measures in place will make your customers feel safer.

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