CALIFORNIA’S GROCERY COMMUNITY ASKS CONSUMERS TO PLAN AHEAD FOR THEIR HOLIDAY GROCERY SHOPPING

The holidays might look different this year, but there’s still turkey and ham to carve and your loved ones’ favorite sides to share. 

December is traditionally one of the busiest months for the grocery industry. To help keep shoppers and essential workers safe and healthy during this holiday season, California’s grocery community asks consumers to plan ahead, wear a mask and maintain social distancing when visiting their favorite neighborhood store.

To alleviate shopper congestion during the holidays, many grocery stores have expanded e-commerce partnerships and access, hired additional staff members, added cooler and freezer capacity, and expanded private-label offerings. 

“We want to encourage Californians to shop early, so that we can avoid over-crowding stores in the run-up to the holidays,” Fong continued.

By preparing well in advance and avoiding last-minute trips to the grocery store, we can minimize lines to enter stores and keep our fellow shoppers and essential worker safe. 

Here are CGA’s 10 Holiday Safe Shopping Tips

1. Plan your holiday meals at least two weeks in advance. Buy non-perishable items ahead of time.
2. Consider online options such as delivery or curbside pick-up.
3. Bake in extra time for your visit during the holiday season. Grocery stores will be enforcing state COVID-19 mandates that limit store occupancy.
4. Avoid visiting a store during week of Christmas if possible.
5. Always wear a mask when inside the grocery store as is mandated in California.
6. Keep a distance of two shopping carts between you and your fellow shoppers and grocery store employees. Do not crowd the checkstand.
7. Consider shopping during off-peak hours to avoid store crowding. Do not bring extra people to the store if at all possible.
8. Treat essential grocery employees with kindness. Be patient as they go about their work including additional cleaning protocols and offer a hearty “thank you” when you can.
9. Inspect items with your eyes instead of your hands to limit unnecessary handling of store products.
10. Buy only what you need for your holiday meals. There is enough for all.

In Case You Missed It

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new plan to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines through partnerships with both chain and independent grocery stores across the country. Several California grocery companies are part of this effort.

The vaccines will require no out-of-pocket costs, according to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, and pharmacists, pharmacy interns and pharmacy technicians will be able to provide vaccinations to customers. Providing the vaccine options at grocery stores will remove barriers to customers improving community health throughout California.

“We are leveraging the existing private sector infrastructure to get safe and effective vaccines supported by Operation Warp Speed into communities and into arms as quickly as possible with no out-of-pocket costs. The vast majority of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, and our new agreement with pharmacy partners across America is a critical step toward making sure all Americans have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines when they are available.”

By partnering with HHS, the grocery industry in California continues to expand its role on the frontlines, serving Californians during the pandemic and other natural disasters. 

“Throughout the pandemic, grocery stores have done the essential work required to sustain communities with safe access to nourishing food,” said California Grocers Association CEO and President Ron Fong. “This partnership is an extension of the grocery community’s commitment to our customers and all Californians.”

As part of the agreement, Californians will be able to access vaccines at Albertsons, Safeway and Vons Pharmacies; Costco; Raley’s, Bel Air and Nob Hill Pharmacies; Ralphs; and Save Mart Pharmacies.

Currently, there are no COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the CDC.  However, this pharmacy partnership is being established in anticipation that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be authorized or approved and recommended for use in the United States before the end of 2020.

California’s grocery community asks consumers to plan ahead for their holiday grocery shopping

The holidays might look different this year, but there’s still turkey to carve and your loved ones’ favorite sides to share. 

November and December are traditionally the two busiest months for the grocery industry. To help keep shoppers and essential workers safe and healthy during this holiday season, California’s grocery community asks consumers to plan ahead, wear a mask and maintain social distancing when visiting their favorite neighborhood store.

“The industry has been preparing for an uptick in demand and in store visits,” said CGA CEO and President Ron Fong. “These preparations include streamlined arrangements that make it easier to pick up your turkey or pre-cooked sides.”

To alleviate shopper congestion during in the build-up to Thanksgiving, many grocery stores have expanded e-commerce partnerships and access, hired additional staff members, added cooler and freezer capacity, set up Thanksgiving meal and turkey pick-up stations, and expanded private-label offerings. 

Across the state counties remain in various stages of reopening where grocery stores are required to maintain occupancy rates below 100 percent. For example, counties in the red and purple tiers must keep their stores at 50 percent of in-store capacity.

“We want to encourage Californians to shop early, so that we can avoid over-crowding stores in the run-up to the holidays,” Fong continued.

By preparing well in advance and avoiding last-minute trips to the grocery store, we can minimize lines to enter stores and keep our fellow shoppers and essential worker safe. 

Here are CGA’s 10 Holiday Safe Shopping Tips

1. Plan your holiday meals at least two weeks in advance. Buy non-perishable items ahead of time. Utilize designated turkey pick-up stations, if available.
2. Consider online options such as delivery or curbside pick-up for ordering your turkey or pre-prepared Thanksgiving side dishes.
3. Bake in extra time for your visit during the holiday season. Grocery stores will be enforcing state COVID-19 mandates that limit store occupancy.
4. Avoid visiting a store during week of Thanksgiving if possible.
5. Always wear a mask when inside the grocery store as is mandated in California.
6. Keep a distance of two shopping carts between you and your fellow shoppers and grocery store employees. Do not crowd the checkstand.
7. Consider shopping during off-peak hours to avoid store crowding. Do not bring extra people to the store if at all possible.
8. Treat essential grocery employees with kindness. Be patient as they go about their work including additional cleaning protocols and offer a hearty “thank you” when you can.
9. Inspect items with your eyes instead of your hands to limit unnecessary handling of store products.
10. Buy only what you need for your holiday meals. There is enough for all.