Supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths implement additional safety measures in its stores in Greater Brisbane to help keep customers and team members safe, following the Queensland government’s announcement of increased Covid restrictions.
The state government advised that from 6pm on 8 January, face masks were required to be worn when outside the home in Greater Brisbane (Brisbane City, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay and Redland City).
Coles has also implemented enhanced safety and hygiene measures in Greater Brisbane stores to help customers shop safely, including greeting customers at the entrance of its supermarkets to remind them to use the sanitising station, which includes hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes for trolleys, before they enter.
Coles’ standard cleaning procedures in all supermarkets, liquor stores and Coles Express sites comply with all government health and safety guidelines to reduce the risk of Covid transmission.
To help manage increased demand, the retailer has increased service levels on Coles Online.
To help manage demand for key staple items, a two pack per customer limit is now in place at all Coles supermarkets and Coles Express stores in Greater Brisbane, as well as Coles Online orders for all Queensland customers, for the following items:
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Coles will continue to monitor product availability and asks that customers only buy what they need to help ensure everyone in the community has access to food and everyday essentials. Please visit www.coles.com.au/covid19 to check the latest news on product limits and safety measures in place at your local store.
Coles has put together some tips on how customers can minimise their time in store by being a Coles Speedy Shopper, including creating a shopping list ahead of time and organising it aisle-by-aisle in their chosen store before they shop using the Coles App, available here: www.coles.com.au/covid19/in-store-updates#speedy
Coles Chief Operating Officer Matt Swindells said the health and safety of customers and team members remains Coles’ top priority.
“We have well-established safety protocols based on what we have learned from COVID restrictions implemented in other states.
“Taking these immediate and additional safety measures including requiring our team members to wear face masks during their shifts and enhanced cleaning will protect and ensure our customers and team members can feel safe in our stores,” Mr Swindells said.
“We have also increased the number of team members in stores and expanded our Coles Online capacity to help serve customers quickly and safely during this busy time.
“We thank our amazing teams who are working tremendously hard and we appreciate our customers for their patience and for treating our team members with respect as we work through this challenging time together.”
Woolworths has reinstated purchase limits on a range of products in Greater Brisbane both in-store and online to ensure Woolworths customers continue to have fair access to these products.
Woolworths Supermarkets Director of Stores Rob Moffat said: “We understand this is an anxious time for Brisbane residents, however we want to reassure our customers we will remain open as an essential service to support their food and grocery needs during the temporary lockdown.
“We have stock to draw on from our suppliers and distribution centres and it will continue to flow into stores in large volumes.
“We encourage everyone to continue shopping as they usually would and only buy what they need.”
Woolworths will continue to monitor demand and look to remove the limits as quickly as possible.
Given the heightened risk of community transmission across Greater Brisbane, Woolworths has also taken the following measures to help keep customer and team COVIDsafe:
- As per Queensland Government directions, team members and customers in Greater Brisbane must wear a mask when leaving home, which includes shopping in our stores (unless exempted by the QLD Government).
- Additional monitoring of social distancing is in place throughout our stores and around the checkouts.
- Health & Safety Ambassadors will be in our stores to support with cleaning and wiping down trolleys. Customers are asked to continue to use the hand sanitiser on entry and exit.
Mr Moffat added: “As always, we ask our customers to follow all social distancing and hygiene measures while shopping in our stores.
“We also ask customers to treat our team and each other with respect as we work through this uncertain time together.”
Woolworths has introduced purchase limits of two items on the following products for customers in Greater Brisbane (including the LGA’s of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands):
- Toilet Rolls
- Paper Towels
- Tissues
- Liquid Soap
- Anti Bacterial Wipes
- Fresh and Long Life Milk
- Eggs
- Pasta
- Noodles
- Rice
- Flour
- Sugar
- Bread
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Tomatoes
- Canned Fish
- Mince
- All meat including sausages, burgers
- Chicken Breasts and Thighs
- Pre-packaged Seafood
- Frozen Vegetables
- Frozen Chips
- Frozen Fruit
- Frozen Desserts