* This is a living document that will be updated on a regular basis until it is no longer needed.
April 8
ACME Markets Announces it will Limit Store Capacity
ACME Markets announced today that the company will implement additional social distancing protocols across all its 164 stores. Effective immediately, ACME will begin limiting the number of customers who can be inside a store at one time to approximately 20% of the store’s overall capacity, unless otherwise mandated. The company expects to have this completed in all stores by Thursday, April 9.
“The health and safety of our customers, associates and their families is our top priority,” said Jim Perkins, President of ACME. “We believe this is an important step to help reinforce proper social distancing.”
In addition to limiting the number of customers inside the stores, ACME is also sourcing masks for all store and distribution center associates. The company expects masks to be available in all stores by the end of the week.
These measures are in addition to those already in place, including:
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- Plexiglass: As an added precaution in our ongoing efforts to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we installed Plexiglass partitions in our checkout lanes in all of our 164 stores. We ask that customers be mindful in standing behind the partition during their transaction.
- Designated Line Queuing and One-Way Movement: We placed directional arrows on the floors to promote one-way foot traffic through stores, including up and down aisles. This is in addition to decals marking off 6-foot spaces through the checkstands and other areas that can cause lines to form like our deli, meat, seafood and pharmacy departments.
- CDC Cleanliness Guidelines: We regularly remind our associates to follow all CDC guidelines for frequent hand washing, hand sanitizer use, and surface cleaning.
- Running Clean Stores: We’ve taken enhanced measures to clean and disinfect all departments, restrooms and other high-touch points of the store throughout the day, as well as a deep cleanse at the end of each business day. Cart wipes and hand sanitizer stations continue to be available at key locations within the store for your convenience.
- Adjusted Store Hours: Our stores have adjusted their hours to 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. to give our teams the time they need to rest, restock shelves and get ready to serve the community, unless otherwise mandated by law.
- Dedicated Shopping Windows: We have set aside dedicated shopping hours from 7 – 9 a.m. Monday to Friday for senior citizens and other at-risk populations, such as pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems. We ask our non-senior and non-at-risk customers to respect these hours for those who need them most, and to avoid shopping during these times.
- Free Pharmacy Delivery: We are offering free same-day and next-day delivery of prescriptions to patients through at least May 1.
- Product Returns: Out of an abundance of caution, our return policy is temporarily changing. We are not accepting returns at this time.
- Reusable Bags: As always, customers are free to bring their reusable bags in our stores; however, for the safety of our associates we ask those who are using reusable bags to please bag their own groceries. Our staff will continue to bag orders with store provided bags.