HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, N.L. — With more and more shoppers concerned about being in crowds, essential businesses like grocery stores are changing the way they do business.
The major grocery retailers in Happy Valley-Goose Bay have increased sanitation measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic and both are offering home delivery of groceries.
Terrington Co-op has expanded a delivery service in place for members over the age of 60.
George Andrews, president of the co-op, said they are now delivering groceries to any member-owners living with a chronic illness who are concerned about being in a crowded store.
The changes are in response to concerns people have around COVID-19, Andrews said, and are receiving a fair bit of uptake.
“We’ll revisit how things go post-COVID but right now this is what we’re doing, it’s our little part to protect our member-owners, the general community, and our staff,” he said.
They’ve also expanded delivery to include the communities of North West River, Sheshatshiu and Mud Lake.
A new service is allowing people, members or not, to call ahead and prepay an order. When they arrive, the staff will bring groceries to the vehicle.
“It’ll help those people who might not feel comfortable going into a crowded store still be able to get their groceries,” Andrews said.
He wanted to reassure customers though the store may be running out of some items, their supplier says delivery is still running smoothly.
NorthMart assured its customers of the same thing in a release the company sent out on March 16. The store will also freeze its prices for the next 60 days.
“Over the past several weeks Northern and NorthMart have increased orders of essential food and other grocery products to ensure we have an adequate supply for our customers,” the release read.
NorthMart said they are also enhancing sanitization of their stores, practicing social distancing and halted non-essential travel for all employees.
They also offer a delivery service for any age group, with some restrictions. Contact the store for more details on those restrictions and costs.
