Longos requires customers to wear masks

TORONTO, ON., May 4, 2020 — As Toronto creeps into reopening its doors, perhaps we are getting a little glimpse of what the “new normal” will be like when stores, restaurants, businesses and are all up and running again. Today, the Longos grocery chain based in Vaughan announced that all customers “are required to wear a mask or face covering while in the store.”

The upscale grocery store chain already had a policy in place requiring all of its store employees to wear masks. But now they are saying all customers are encouraged to bring their own masks to wear but if they do not have one, or if they forget to bring it there will be masks available to purchase on the premises.

“Doing the right thing is part of the very fabric of our company,” said Anthony Longo, President & CEO. “As a family business, the wellbeing of our Team Members and our Guests is our number one priority. I want to personally emphasize that COVID-19 has our full, undivided attention. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain committed to ensuring every family has access to fresh food and essentials, especially in times of uncertainty, while keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Longos had already taken numerous steps to protect its employees and customers, including reducing store hours (along with all other grocery chains) to allow for more time to sanitize, restock and ensure our Team Members can rest. Longos also provided prioritized shopping between 7 am and 8 am for seniors and at-risk members of our community, as well as plexiglass shields at check-out counters, physical distancing measures, reduced touch-points, ramped up sanitizing and more.

Expect to see more announcements like this over the coming weeks, as Canadian shoppers will required to adapt to a “new normal” as more and more businesses reopen and while continuing to fight against the spread of COVID-19.

story by Terry Lankstead