Coronavirus: statements from the supermarket bosses

Aldi - Giles Hurley

Dear Customer,

As you will be aware, all supermarkets have been working very hard to keep up with demand over the last few days.

I am writing to reassure you, and all our other valued customers, that our colleagues and trusted suppliers are working round the clock to keep our warehouses fully stocked.

We have increased orders from our suppliers and our warehouses have sufficient stock to replenish all stores. This includes all of the essentials such as sanitary and baby products.

Our amazing colleagues have been working tirelessly to restock our stores. However, unprecedented demand for certain products has made it difficult for us to ensure that there are no gaps on shelves.

All of our stores receive daily deliveries, often multiple times a day. So if a certain product is not available when you visit, it will be replenished in the overwhelming majority of cases by the following day.

We have taken action to discourage people buying more than they need. Customers are currently limited to buying four items of any one product during each visit. This is still significantly more than most customers would buy in a normal shopping trip and we hope this temporary restriction will give as many customers as possible the opportunity to get what they need, every time they visit.

I’m sure, like me, you are also concerned about those who are vulnerable at this time. Not everyone has the financial or practical resources to buy in bulk, including our elderly customers. We all have a responsibility to ensure we only buy what we and our families need. If we shop as we normally do, our stores will quickly return to normal.

Finally, my sincere thanks to you for your continued support and to every single one of our colleagues. It’s the people at Aldi that make our business special and they have come together like never before to serve you, our customers, during this extremely busy time.

With very best wishes,

Giles Hurley

Sainsbury’s - Mike Coupe

Dear Customer,

You will have seen that, due to the ongoing uncertainty around the full impact of Coronavirus, supermarkets have been much busier than usual and customers are choosing to stock up.

I wanted to personally reassure you that we have more food and other essential items coming to us from manufacturers and into our warehouses and distribution centres. If we all shop just for the food that we and our families need, there will be enough for everyone.

I also wanted to let you know that at Sainsbury’s, we are working really hard to ensure this remains the case. Over the past two weeks we have:

• Ordered more stock of essential items from our suppliers
• Put more capacity into our warehouses and
• Set limits on a small number of items, including some cleaning products, soap and pain relief. This is a precautionary measure - if everyone shops normally, there will be enough for everyone.

There are gaps on shelves because of increased demand, but we have new stock arriving regularly and we’re doing our best to keep shelves stocked. Our store colleagues are working tirelessly and doing the best job they can.

Which brings me onto a request. Please think before you buy and only buy what you and your family need. If we all do this then we can make sure we have enough for everyone. And please help elderly and vulnerable friends, family and neighbours with their shopping if you can.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and to thank our colleagues who are all working incredibly hard to ensure we can continue to serve our customers well.

Best wishes

Mike

Asda - Roger Burnley

Dear Customer,   

I know these are worrying times and that you’re probably trying to ‘carry on as normal’ whilst doing your best to look after friends and family. I’m massively aware that Asda – and all the supermarkets – have such an important role to play in making sure you and your community have the essentials you all need and I wanted to personally reassure you that we are working really hard to keep our shelves stocked and serving your community.  

We’re taking our responsibilities to respond to Coronavirus – Covid 19 really seriously. First and foremost, let me promise you that looking after you and colleagues is our number one priority, which is why we’re staying close to the advice from Government to make sure we’re doing the right things. 

In our shops Just as you are at home, we’re making every effort to try and help limit the spread of bacteria and have put additional cleaning materials in our stores. We’ve also asked our cleaners to focus on cleaning more frequently in the ‘high traffic’ areas. To make it easier for you to clean trollies and baskets before you use them, we’re topping up the cleaning stations in our foyers even more regularly.

Online Demand for online shopping has increased and we’re delivering as many orders as we possibly can. If you can be flexible in your delivery or collection time, that would be fantastic and we’ve made sure our drivers all have sanitizer spray so they can continually ensure they’re able to keep your shopping and the totes clean and hygienic.  If you do need to self-isolate for any reason, I’d just ask that you let us know of your situation in the ‘Other Information’ section when placing your order. Let us know where you’d like your order to be left – be that your doorstep or communal entrance and our drivers will bring it there for you. They’ll use bags rather than our usual totes and let you know they’ve arrived. If you’re unable to collect your order quickly then drivers will give you a call, but because they have so many deliveries to make at the moment, if they can’t get hold of you after a few minutes, then the order will be returned to the store and the order cancelled and refunded. For your reassurance and theirs our drivers will wear gloves when they’re delivering to anyone who is self-isolating.

On our shelves We’re working around the clock to make sure we’re doing everything we can to keep products available - and in some cases, such as with hand sanitizer, cleaning products and baby formula – we have implemented a limit on the number of items that can be purchased to make sure everyone can get what they need. I’d also ask that you try to shop responsibly and not buy more than you need so that everyone, including the vulnerable, have access to the essentials.  

Finally, I want to take a moment to thank our colleagues for their incredible efforts during these unprecedented times. I apologise if shopping with us at the moment is not a perfect experience, but I would ask that you be patient with my colleagues as they try to do their very best during these unprecedented times.  I know that this is a worrying situation and I can promise you that everyone at Asda is focussed on providing a safe shopping experience for you all. If you have any concerns or questions then please do contact our customer service team on 0800 952 0101 and they’ll do their very best to help.  

Take care,

Roger

Morrisons - David Potts

This is a message of thanks to our customers for their patience and support and to our colleagues and suppliers for their hard work in dealing with the uncharted challenges and uncertainty presented by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Whilst customers are stocking up, our colleagues are working around the clock to fill our stores with what you need, to serve our customers and communities and take care of one another when we need each other most.

We want to let you know that looking after our customers and colleagues is our priority at Morrisons, ensuring we all have a clean, safe place to shop and work.

We are working hard to fill our shops are online stores: 

• We are a Foodmaker and Shopkeeper and we’re increasing the amount of food we make in our British manufacturing sites to meet customers’ needs
• We’ve increased the amount of stock being sent to stores from our warehouses, with colleagues working incredibly hard
• We’re extending our home delivery service so we can deliver to more customers on their doorstep at the times they need us
• We’re introducing temporary purchase limits on products where there is high demand, so they remain available for longer for more customers to buy.
• Cleaning in our stores is being increased throughout the day to ensure high standards of food safety and store cleanliness are maintained.

We are following guidance provided by the Government, working closely with our suppliers and ensuring we collectively do everything possible to help the country in these challenging times.

We expect the days, weeks and months ahead to be testing. I know that working together to support each other we will meet the many challenges we will face.

We have plans in place to respond as the situation develops and we are working every day to meet the changing nature of the impact of this pandemic.

I would like to ask all out customers, when shopping with us, to please consider others even more so everyone can buy what they need, especially those who are most vulnerable in our society. Please continue to treat our colleagues on the front like with the greatest respect.

Thank you for shopping at Morrisons. We promise to do our very best to work together, to support our customers and each other as we face into this challenge.

Sincerely,

David

Holland & Barrett - Tony Buffin

Dear Customer,

Amid the developing coronavirus situation, I wanted to take the time to reassure you of the actions we are taking as a responsible health and wellness retailer at this time. 

The health of both our customers and our team members is our biggest priority. We are closely following the advice of Public Health England and the World Health Organisation and introducing a wide variety of measures to minimise the impact to public health. 

Cleaning in our stores has been intensified, with our teams requested to regularly sanitise their hands, and to maintain distance when working with customers, including encouraging customers to use contactless payments where possible. Sampling activities have also been temporarily suspended as an additional precautionary measure. 

Any of our team members who show even mild signs of flu-like symptoms have been advised to follow the government advice surrounding medical care and self-isolation, and we are ensuring that team members are supported fully during this time. 

We know that in times like these, it’s more important than ever that you are able to access the healthy food, vitamins and supplements you need. All of our shops remain open and ready to help. For those of you who don’t currently want to be out and about on the high street all of our store products, and further extended ranges, are available online at hollandandbarrett.com. Please feel free to make use of the home delivery or click & collect service. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and follow direction given by the government and will take whatever action is necessary to protect the health of our customers and our teams. 

Tony Buffin

 

Poundland - Barry Williams 

Hello,

I’m Barry Williams, managing director of Poundland in the UK and Dealz in Ireland.

I know these are difficult times for you and your family and I want you to know, like you, I’m concerned over Coronavirus and its potential impact.

As a community retailer with 850 stores on high streets across the UK & Ireland. I’m also acutely aware of the responsibility I have to help. I want to reassure you we’ll do all we can to support you – and our own colleagues – in the weeks ahead.

We’re working flat out behind the scenes to make sure we have all the essentials you need. Most of our packaged grocery items are sourced here in the UK which is helping us keep supplies available.

We’re trying not to ration products but where we do, it’s only so we can serve as many of our customers as possible. Please help us to help you, by thinking hard about what you need.

But we know it’s not just about our stock – you want to know you’re safe in our stores. As you’re doing at home, we’re also taking Coronavirus seriously from a health perspective.

We’ve significantly increased our cleaning regime and have recently re-briefed all our 18,000 colleagues on best practice.

We’ve asked our colleagues to wash their hands thoroughly every twenty minutes, clean our self-checkout tills, baskets and ATMs with antibacterial fluids hourly and make sure all our back-of-house areas are in excellent shape.

I know how important the service we provide you is and we will do whatever it takes over the weeks and months ahead to protect you/

Finally I want to thank our colleagues. They’re going the extra mile at the moment to make sure we provide the service you need. I know from the messages I’ve received, you appreciate them too. 

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch at 0333 234 1877 or at https://www.poundland.co.uk/help/contact-us/. We’ll do our best to help.

Stay safe,

Barry

B&M - Simon Arora

Everyone at B&M is working very hard to keep our stores stocked during these difficult times. We have been prioritising essential goods such as grocery, household and personal care departments. Currently we have good availability in our warehouses and stores.

This will continue as our suppliers are increasing production but we do ask shoppers to be sensible in the quantities they buy. There is enough product for all of us if we remain considerate to the needs of everyone, especially our elderly and vulnerable shoppers.

Our store colleagues are doing all we can to protect the wellbeing of our shoppers and to keep our workplaces safe. Together as a society, we can definitely get through this.

Thank you, as always, for your custom.

Simon Arora