Giant Food Implementing One-Way Aisle Traffic, Capacity Limits

Giant Food, the leading greater Washington D.C. regional grocery chain, announced today stores would be implementing one-way aisle traffic and store capacity limits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Giant is implementing one-way aisle traffic across all stores to support social distancing and improve the flow of customer traffic. Arrow markers on the floor will designate traffic direction throughout the aisles and associates will be available to point customers in the correct directions. Signage will also be available in store to remind customers to observe six feet of distance from others. Shoppers will begin to see the new policy starting today.

Beginning April 9, Giant is also implementing a customer count limit in its stores. Occupancy will be limited to 20 percent of each specific store’s overall capacity taking into consideration shelving and display fixtures. To manage customer occupancy limits, an associate will be stationed at the front entrance tracking shopper flow. Signage will be placed at front entrances communicating the updated occupancy limits.

“We are continuing to learn and adapt to the new ways of working during this challenging time and believe that these additional measures will allow us to further promote safe social distancing practices in our aisles to keep our customers and associates safe,” said Ira Kress, Interim President at Giant Food. “We will continue to look for ways to make shopping as safe and easy as possible to keep our doors open as we provide this essential service to our communities.”

In previous weeks, Giant Food has also implemented other policies including designating special shopping hours for senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals, increasing sanitizing and disinfection procedures of “high-touch areas” across all stores, equipping associates with Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) plastic face shields as well as disinfecting wipes, gloves, hand sanitizers and installing plexiglass shields at cash registers, pharmacy counters and customer service desks. Giant Delivers also implemented contactless delivery.