* This is a living document that will be updated on a regular basis until it is no longer needed. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Stew Leonard Daily News update page.
Dear friends and shoppers,
Here at Stew’s, we are working hard to keep creating happy customers during the coronavirus pandemic. We couldn’t keep our stores open without our more than 3,000 Team Members who are restocking the shelves and making sure our customers leave Stew Leonard’s with a smile.
In some ways, though, we’ve had to change the way we do business in order to serve you better during this time, including cancelling our in-store demos as well as many events that we know your family was looking forward to, including our annual Easter Egg Hunts. But during this difficult time, we’ve also seen a lot of great acts of kindness in each of the communities we serve, and we’d like to thank the first responders, the hospital workers, and others who are working tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy.
Things are changing rapidly, so our team is doing its best to update this page and our social media channels with all the information you’ll need to know about shopping at Stew Leonard’s.
On behalf of the Leonard family and all of us here at Stew’s, we wish you and your family good health.
See you in the store! – Stew
March 23
Starting tonight, March 23, all Stew Leonard’s stores will close at 8 p.m. every day.
This week, Stew Leonard’s will extend a $2/hour appreciation pay to our Team Members who are tirelessly working to keep our shelves stocked and our customers happy.
NEW RETURN POLICY
We Want to Keep Our Shoppers and Team Members Healthy! To help combat the spread of coronavirus, Stew Leonard’s must temporarily suspend our return, refund, and rain-check policies until further notice.
This change was recommended by our state and local health departments.
If you purchased a fresh product that was spoiled, please bring in your receipt or the product label to our customer service desk and request a refund. Please do not bring any spoiled products back into the store. Our Team Members have been instructed to wear gloves while handling receipts and labels.
All sales are now final.
EARLY OPENING FOR SENIORS
Stew Leonard’s will open one hour early each day to allow our most vulnerable shoppers – seniors and those with vulnerable immune systems – to shop in a less crowded environment. If you are under 60 or in good health, please wait until regular store opening times before coming to shop at Stew’s.
TO FURTHER PROTECT YOUR HEALTH, STEW LEONARD’S HAS:
- Cancelled all in-store demos
- Set product limits when necessary on items like water, pasta, toilet paper, butter and milk. Please see in-store signage for details.
- Eliminated all self-serve areas, including our hot/cold bar, olive bar, and bagel bins. The items from these areas have been freshly pre-packaged by our Team Members
- Placing our cashiers on every-other register so that they and our shoppers have some space between them.
To help keep both our customers and our Team Members healthy, we are asking customers to please do the following:
- Give fellow shoppers some distance while they are waiting in line or in the store. While at checkout, please remain at the end of the belt until the customer in front has cleared the register.
- Respect Stew Leonard’s early shopping hour that is being reserved for the elderly, immunocompromised, and others with health conditions.
- Shop for only what you and your family will need for one week at a time. There is no need to hoard groceries as our supply chain is strong and we are getting frequent deliveries of product.
KEEP IT CLEAN! STEW’S TIPS FOR CLEANING YOUR RESUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS
It’s great for the environment when you use your reusable bags! But it’s also a good idea to clean them after each use to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.
Here are Stew’s tips:
- Canvas bags: wash on hot in the washing machine and throw them in the dryer. You’re done!
- Recycled plastic bags & nylon bags: wash by hand in warm soapy water and then drip dry. Don’t forget to scrub the seams of the bags!
- Insulated shopping bags: wipe them with a disinfecting wipe, especially if you’ve used them to transport raw meat.
- Remember to store your reusable bags in a cool, dry place between uses.
THE STEPS THAT OUR TEAM TAKES EVERY DAY INCLUDE:
- Clean and sanitize food contact surfaces every 1 hour.
- Clean and sanitize our animation buttons, handrails, door handles, and phones every 2 hours.
- Clean and sanitize our register belts, keypads, and pens at the registers every 2 hours and whenever customers request it.
- Clean and sanitize or exchange all utensils used on any of our salad bars, olive bars, and bagel bins every 2 hours.
- Provide Sani-wipes and hand sanitizer throughout our stores for customers and Team Members to use.
- Continually monitor our salad bars for temperatures and cleanliness.
Stew Leonard’s management team is also in regular communication with our Team Members about steps that they should take throughout their workday to keep themselves and our shoppers healthy:
- Team Members should thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds throughout their shift and change their gloves between tasks.
- Cover your cough – but don’t cough into your hand! Use a tissue or the sleeve of your shirt
- Stay home if you’re sick