Reload, Restock,Reload, Out-Of-Stock
How normal is normal for grocery stores as California begins reopening phases?
Written by Isaac Bruce. 13, May 2020
Summer is soon to be upon us and COVID-19 remains the ever-present unwelcome guest. It has been nearly four months since the first reported case of COVID-19 in California and since then, COVID-19 has altered the landscape politically, economically and socially. For grocery stores in Southern California, the effects of COVID-19 have compounded drastically. While most retail locations quickly boarded up and temporarily closed, grocery stores remained open as essential necessities for the general public. The change of landscape could not prepare grocery store retailers for what they would face: heavy foot traffic.
First Case of COVID-19 in California — Jan 2020
At the onset of the pandemic in California and the issuance of quarantine, grocery stores became inundated with shoppers stockpiling supplies.
Checkout lines snaked through aisles, paper towels and tissue paper became the new hot commodities and perishable products flew off shelves within a matter of a couple days. Suddenly, grocery stores began to resemble arena’s. Packed to capacity while grocery stores gradually began laying the groundwork for regulations.
California, March 14th, 2020
The spread of COVID-19 was fast at work making an ardent shopper of even the homeliest of home body’s. Scrambling to keep pace with shoppers, grocery stores would face a heavy toll. Heavier the task put upon their employees. For some stores in the SoCal region, regulations would not be implemented until a week into quarantine. Slowly, but surely, limitations would be placed on product purchases, age requirements (seniors in first) and operation hours changed to suit the fervent demand from shoppers. These regulations would then be summarily replaced by new regulations. Replaced, removed and replaced again. Cycles of miscommunication plagued grocery stores in the early weeks of quarantine. In part, a consequence of the uncertain nature of COVID-19. Morale for employees began to sink as each day played host to the unwanted guest. Both grocers and their employees were about to enter a new and unfamiliar era.
May of 2020
Fast-forward to now, two months after the issuance of quarantine in California. There are rumblings of portions of the state are opening up to the public and grocery stores move to standardize regulations.
Masks and gloves are now mandated by law in public spaces. Shelves are less bare, the prized toiletry returns in spurts and lines have been cut by a fraction. Things appear to be on track for a return to normalcy. Things appear to be..
But just how normal have things really become? For all the variables that have shifted around during quarantine, one variable remains prevalent through all of this -the operators working tirelessly to facilitate consumer demand and balance regulations. Since day 1 of quarantine in SoCal, employees have seen their hours doubled, their workload increased and their chance of contracting COVID-19 is higher than average.
Normalcy is nowhere close to normal for an essential employee.
“I just feel like everyone was in a rush to buy the supplies they needed,” said C.B. an employee at Fallbrook Ralph’s. “There’s quite a handful (of customers) that are not understanding of the situation.”
Employees like C.B. experience the transition to normalcy first hand in the grocery space. C.B.’s manager, D.R. capitulates on good morale for his team.
“Yes, morale is good, everyone has really stepped up to the plate,” said D.R.
Employees are right to safeguard that morale. Just recently, the Hollywood branch of Ralph’s had over 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The majority of these cases involve employees. Ralph’s in particular is also noted for implementing its “Hero Bonus”, which is essentially hazard pay. A temporary $2 increase to employee wage. Though the “Hero Bonus” is set to end May 16th, given the outbreak at the Hollywood store, employees have to wonder if the hazard pay was worth the risks at all.
For other grocery store employees, the stakes are more than worth it.
“I see more business, I see more people coming out, I see traffic outside,” said R.W, a Sprout’s employee.
To R.W., that heavy foot traffic is welcome and it is encouraged.
“But I definitely think customers are going back to their old demanding ways, like ‘why don’t you have it!’(chuckles),” said R.W.
Customers may very well be returning to their old ways, but it hasn’t averted the shopping craze.
Grocery store Trader Joe’s and even wholesalers Walmart and Costco continue to rack up long lines and heavy foot traffic. A quick trip to a local Costco will make it apparent that things aren’t business as usual.
Compounded by potential food shortages, closure of meatpacking plants, the strain on resources is a serious threat to regaining normalcy. Normalcy still appears to be far removed from us.
“No, I don’t think we’ll ever go back to a sense of normalcy, because being in the markets just feels kinda weird,” said miss Clubb, a Sprout’s shopper.