Walmart began requiring customers to wear masks at all Walmart and Sam's Club stores on July 20, 2020, with employees stationed at entrances to enforce policy.
According to Cub Foods’ Stigers, the cleaning stakes are even higher in 2021, with shoppers stressed out about mutant COVID strains, air filled with virus droplets, and vaccines that may not work. For Stigers, retail sanitation in 2021 has to start with store leadership: tasking each leader with fighting against pandemic fatigue and keeping safety protocols on the front burner. Many retailers are leveraging EPA-registered cleaning and disinfecting products, UV lights that disinfect, and specialty air filters that remove contaminants. Relying on experts for guidance is also critical, according to Chris Wright, VP of sales at San Diego-based Brain Corp, which makes software for robotic floor scrubbers.
“The retail industry is tracking for sanitation guidelines from groups like ISSA, GBAC and CDC that continue to refine and recommend best practices,” Wright says. “We’re seeing industry leaders follow and enforce these guidelines across stores, rather than allowing for independent decision-making, which is for the best.”
Other best practices include enhanced sanitation schedules for all high-touch areas of the store, enhanced sanitation for all restrooms and associate break areas, and enhanced checkout cleaning between every customer, with cleaning of all PIN pads and high-touch areas.
“At Cub Foods, microbial checkstand belts have been installed in all intake and takeaway belts, greatly improving productivity and customer acceptance,” Stigers notes. “Store huddles are held daily with COVID-19 protocols leading the agenda.” He adds that his team is studying new “cart cleaners.”
Cub and other grocers are also embracing robotics with open arms to help solve sanitation challenges related to COVID-19.
“Retailers have turned towards antimicrobial surfaces, electrostatic sprayers for disinfection, shopping cart-cleaning machines and autonomous floor scrubbers to sanitize effectively,” says Barreca, of Buckeye. “Whether or not the use of these innovations persists over time is still to be determined, but the odds are good.”
Ahold Delhaize USA seems to think the odds are better than good. Earlier this year, the company’s services arm, Retail Business Services (RBS), launched a pilot of UV disinfection robots from Cambridge, Mass.-based Ava Robotics in two of its distribution centers to aid in enhanced cleaning procedures.
“2020 was an unprecedented year for grocery retail,” observes Chris Lewis, EVP of supply chain for Quincy, Mass.-based RBS. “The robots have enabled us to further enhance disinfection procedures at two sites to protect our greatest asset — our people. We were pleased to be the first in the industry to support the testing of this technology.”
Ava’s robot disinfects both air and surfaces at a rate of about 9,000 square feet per hour, with 99% effectiveness against COVID-19. It also allows for remote access and provides emailed reporting for managers.
When asked about plans to introduce the robot at additional company facilities and divisions, an RBS spokeswoman told Progressive Grocer: “The team continues to evaluate the technology at this time. No decisions about further rollout have been made yet.”
One thing that needs no evaluation: Retailers won’t be able to ease up on their PPE and sanitation protocols anytime soon, and in fact, these factors are more poised than ever to impact a retailer’s reputation, customer loyalty and profitability, Stigers points out.
“Retailers that are consistent and aggressive with their PPE and sanitation practices with collaborative enforcement programs are observed as a ‘safe’ place to shop,” he says. “Those stores that are inconsistent and not executing posted policies and practices are observed as ‘non-safe’ or ‘not serious’ about COVID-19 protection. You cannot simply tell a good story without good follow-through.”