Thursday, March 26, 2020

Operations Update

New Hours of Operation:

El Cerrito Natural Grocery: 10am – 6pm Daily
(Seniors are welcome to shop at our El Cerrito location at 9:30am Daily)

The Natural Grocery Prepared Foods Annex: 10am – 6pm Daily
(Take Out Only via the Parking Lot Entrance)

Grocery Shopping Tips

1. Even if you can afford to buy two months worth of food, please don’t.
Stockpiling creates disruptions to the food distribution chain. At this point it is a good idea to have a few of weeks worth on hand but please exercise restraint and balance what is “individually optimal” with what is “socially optimal” for everyone.

2. Make a list but be prepared to make substitutions.
It is good to have a plan so you can spend as little time shopping as possible but you’ll need to be flexible if some items are not available.

3. Please don’t touch items unless you intend to buy them. We know you’ll need to read labels if you are unfamiliar with a product but please limit touching products whenever you can.

4. Please pay attention to Social Distancing (six feet) between yourself, staff and other patrons while in our stores or waiting in line. We are sorry to have to ask you to wait but it is the only way we can continue to operate in a safe manner. When we have gloves available we will give them to you when you enter.

Be kind. Remember that grocery store employees are probably working extended shifts — and they’re risking their health to be there.

Keep your distance. It’s extremely difficult to restock the shelves during store hours. Do not swarm an employee who is trying to fill empty shelves.

If you want to help, please bag your own groceries.

Safety

Plexiglass guards are being installed at the check stands to protect our cashiers.

We are sanitizing all hand baskets and carts in between use with CDC Approved Food Service Sanitizer.

Common surfaces like freezer door handles, pin pads, cashier stations, water machine start/stop switch, bulk handles etc are being sanitized on a regular basis throughout the day.

Until we get hand sanitizer back for customer use we will issue gloves at the door as we are able.

Acme bread is being individually bagged by our staff each morning to avoid contamination.

Lastly, wipe down your groceries with sanitizer when you bring them home as an extra precaution.