As many shoppers prepared to do their grocery shopping next week, Pick n Pay had taken steps to ensure safe shopping and shelves remained stocked, the company said in a statement.

This week only, Pick n Pay’s pensioners' shopping hour – a dedicated time for elderly customers to have exclusive use of the store to shop for their groceries and essentials – will be on Monday and Tuesday (4 – 5 May).

Stores would open an hour earlier from 7am – 8am exclusively for customers over the age of 65, and for pensioners and disabled grant Sassa beneficiaries, before opening stores to all customers at 8am.

Pick n Pay’s weekly pensioners’ shopping hour would then continue from Wednesday, May 13. From Wednesday to Friday (May 6 – 8), all stores would open early at 7am to help accommodate Sassa social grants.

Staff would assist customers to collect their grants and customers were reminded that they could use their Sassa card to pay for grocery items directly.  

“We are opening early to help our customers get their grants in a less crowded environment. All stores will be well-stocked and prepared for the week so that customers can get the groceries they want during one shop," Pick n Pay retail marketing executive John Bradshaw said.

The health and safety of customers and staff would remain a top priority. All stores had safety measures in place and there was clear signage throughout stores to remind customers and staff of these.

Physical distancing measures included floor markers, queuing and shopping with a trolley, and limiting the number of customers in a store if required. There would be demarcated areas for queues outside stores and marshals would facilitate any queues to help maintain physical distancing. Hand sanitiser would be available as customers came into the store and at till points.

All stores had Perspex screens at till points, and staff had been provided with cloth face masks. Customers were reminded to wear a mask at all times, the statement said.

African News Agency