SPAR puts in place comprehensive social distancing measures

SPAR has implemented a range of new social distancing measures from late last week, strengthening its COVID-19 response.

The new guidelines are in line with the government recommendations and applicable to anyone who enters SPAR shops.

“We have followed the government’s advice on social distancing and now we have a variety of new measures set up in our stores,” said Louise Hoste, managing director at SPAR UK.

“We are asking customers to work with us on the new social distancing measures the government has provided us with in order to keep each other safe.”

The new measures include:

• Making disposable gloves and paper towels available where needed in stores and forecourts
• Providing extra cleaning products for cleaning baskets, counter tops, ATMs and chip and pin machines where applicable
• Where possible stores will use every other till point to keep customers and colleagues a safe distance apart
• Specially designated social distancing markings installed in front of till points
• Customers encouraged to use contactless payments where possible
• Customers asked to pay with card if possible
• Special markings installed throughout stores to showcase two metre spacing to customers
• In-store communication on SPAR radio or posters to show customers how to maintain social distancing while shopping
• Use of floor signage to promote social distancing
• Protective Perspex screens added at store till points including Post Office combination tills
• Encouraging customers to bring their own cups for hot drinks
• Encouraging store staff to limit the amount of customers allowed into the store at any time to ensure social distancing measures are followed
• Where possible special markings installed outside stores highlighting social distances of two meters

“We understand how difficult it is to ask customers to change their behaviour but we are asking our customers to assist us with these measures so we can keep our retail staff and customers safe and consequently allow our SPAR stores to serve their communities,” Hoste added.

The convenience store group said its stores have been well stocked from a good supply from each of the five SPAR wholesalers.

The stores have also been offering a number of different services to their local communities, including home delivery services, charitable donations to those in need, click & collect services, product donations and care packages, support to foodbanks, providing NHS staff with free hot drinks, helping the elderly and vulnerable, supporting local producers and suppliers, updating customers about stock availability through their own social media channels.

“Our local SPAR stores play a crucial role in communities the length and breadth of the country. We are all in this together and the safety of our staff and customers is very important to us,” Hoste concluded.