Cover Story — Supermarket Superheroes

This article appears in the May-June issue of PMG magazine. Keep an eye out for your copy in the coming weeks.

As the coronavirus pandemic unfolded in the U.S. in March and April, many states implemented stay-at-home orders. People who could do their jobs from home did. Others – described as “essential workers” – held down the roles that couldn’t be done in isolation. Grocery store employees were on that list.

Not only were they still going to work, they were working in the one place that everyone else was still going. Some grocery shopping has moved online, but especially in the early weeks of the pandemic, stores were busier than they ever had been before – the holiday season on steroids, day after day.

Stores limited their open hours to allow time for more sanitation and restocking overnight. They implemented exclusive shopping windows for seniors and at-risk individuals. They gave employees masks and gloves and put up plastic shields at check-out counters. Many retailers adjusted their sick leave policies and increased pay in appreciation for the work store employees put in during a truly unprecedented situation.

During the pandemic, "our customers have counted on us like never before,” said Chris Dove, vice president of produce category and merchandising for Food Lion. “We have been amazed by the flexibility our associates have demonstrated and their commitment to doing everything they can to provide our customers with the products they need to nourish their families.

“For example, they’ve needed to manage larger loads than normal on a variety of non-routine schedules,” Dove said. “They’ve relentlessly done everything necessary to care for our customers, of course, all while adhering to new local, state and national health authority guidelines to offer our customers the safest shopping environment we can."

Rob Ybarra, director of produce for Rouses Markets, also noted the performance by store employees has been exceptional.

“What has stood out to me is the commitment, courage and selflessness that our store level produce managers, teammates and field supervisors have exemplified during this crisis,” said Rob Ybarra, director of produce for Rouses Markets. “Our extraordinary  teammates in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi never wavered and reported to work each and every day. In my book, they are true first responders and my superheroes.

“Early lessons are it's better to be nimble and quick than methodically slow and overthink in time of crisis,” Ybarra said. “Don't underestimate the power of locally owned business working together with other locally owned business to get the job done.

“The collaboration that is taking place between competitors has been awe-inspiring,” Ybarra said. “We all had one job and that was to get as much fresh produce and food into our stores so we could take care of our customers’ needs.”

For many more photos of front-line produce workers as #SupermarketSuperheroes, see our previous coverage, with five slideshows that include folks from Food Lion and Rouses along with many others, at this link.