GIANT Limiting Number Of Shoppers In Stores Amid Coronavirus

PENNSYLVANIA — In an effort to keep its customers and staff safe during the new coronavirus pandemic, GIANT grocery stores is limiting how many shoppers can enter their stores.

Effect immediately, GIANT is restricting how many people can be in its stores. The number of customers allowing in at one time varies by location and has been determined based on several factors including occupancy and selling square feet, the company said.

Customers are also asked to limit the size of their shopping party to one member per household as much as possible. GIANT said doing that reduces the overall number of people inside stores and helps support social distancing.

GIANT employees will be stationed at front entrances, tracking shopper flow. When the stores reach capacity, customers will be asked to form a line outside, while observing social distancing.

As customers leave the store, more customers in line will be allowed in the store.

Acme recently implemented a similar policy at all of its stores. See details on Acme's customer-limiting policy here.

"This pandemic has reaffirmed the critical role grocery plays in our local communities and we appreciate our customers' cooperation as we implement additional measures to help keep both them and our team members safe," said Nicholas Bertram, president, The GIANT Company. "In addition, as we remain focused on providing this essential service, we also ask our customers to do their part by shopping with as few family members as possible and buying only what they need at this time."

All GIANT said all of its employees will be wearing face shields and masks. Employees will also be wearing gloves if they so choose.

In recent weeks, GIANT has implemented other policies such as designating special shopping hours for older and immunocompromised members of the community, opening in-store pharmacies at 6 a.m. every Wednesday to accommodate older and immunocompromised individuals, encouraging all team members and customers to practice social distancing in all areas of the store and using full-size carts to help with this, installing checkstand partitions at registers and customer service and pharmacy desks, and increasing in-store cleaning and sanitizing efforts.