US-based natural foods giant Whole Foods Market this week introduced a series of actions to help it manage the evolving COVID-19 situation.
These opening times, a senior shopping hour, and the temporary closure of social eating venues.
Starting on Wednesday, 18 March, all Whole Foods Market stores in the US and Canada began opening to customers who are 60 and older one hour before opening to the general public. In Whole Foods Market stores in the UK a similar service for customers who are 70 and older is operating.
In addition, the retailer will close stores up to two hours early to give its team members more time to restock shelves, sanitize stores and rest in preparation for the next day. But the stores will remain open for pickup orders, and will continue to fulfil Amazon Prime delivery orders in an effort to meet “unprecedented demand”.
Whole Foods says it will also be providing hourly employees with an additional $2 (£2 in the UK) per hour through the month of April.