We round up the main actions retailers across France take to support the fight against COVID-19. Let’s hope others follow their lead.
To protecting in-store employees they have:
- mounted shields made with Plexiglas at tills.
- marked safety distances with tape on the floor at key areas of the store, such as at tills and around serviced counters
- limited the access to the area directly in front of employees. Shoppers are being asked to drop their products at the very beginning of the conveyer belt and then being encouraged to move directly to the packing area at the end of the till where the card payment terminal has been moved.
To reward employees:
- All major retailers announced – following a government initiative – they will give all their warehouse and store employees a tax-free bonus of €1,000 recognizing their hard work and the risk they take by interacting with many people every day.
To support vulnerable shoppers:
- many retailers have implemented specific hours for elderly and vulnerable people
Retailers agreed to give priority access to medical staff:
- Medical staff can skip queues at the till and at stores’ entrances at anytime. Retailers also give medical staff a 10% discount on grocery products
Retailers redesign their supply chains to:
- focus on helping local suppliers: Leclerc announced it will prioritize fruits and vegetables produced in France over those arriving from overseas to help and support local farmers
- encourage consumption of seasonal products: major retailers are reducing their imports of fruits and vegetable to promote local and in-season ones, such as strawberries and asparagus. In-store advertising and digital messages encourage shoppers to buy these products to help farmers. Most retailers also are reassuring lamb producers they will maintain their campaigns around Easter to support them.