Coronavirus Response Update

March 21, 2020

ATTENTION ALL CUSTOMERS

You must follow these rules to shop here

We all need to be safe during this crisis. We are doing everything we can to keep you safe, and our staff as well. If our staff gets sick, we will have to close the store, which won’t be good for anyone. These are our expectations for you, the customer, when shopping in our store. If you cannot follow these best practices, please do not enter the store. If you are observed acting with disregard for public safety, you will be asked to leave the store. If you have questions, please ask.

1. Do not come into the store if you are sick.
2. If you must cough or sneeze, use your arm or elbow to cover your mouth.
3. Sanitize your hands before entering the store and after touching your face.
4. Use the sanitizer on the basket or buggy handles.
5. Do not touch products that you are not intending to purchase.
6. If you want to pick through the produce, please use a glove.
7. Maintain 6 foot distance from other people whenever possible.
8. If you are shopping with children, please keep them close and do not allow them to touch products or other shoppers.
9. Do not bring in reusable bags or containers.
10. We are not accepting bottle returns at this time.
11. We are not accepting product returns, except for defective products.
12. Take a reasonable amount of product. We reserve the right to limit quantities of any item at any time.
13. The first hour of each day (8am-9am) is reserved for individuals with greater risk for serious illness* . We are closing an hour early (starting Mon, 3/23) to clean and stock. Our new hours are 9am to 8pm for all customers. Sundays are 9am to 7pm.
14. Be patient with the staff. We are doing more work with fewer people. 

*Per CDC guidelines, individuals at greatest risk include: older adults; pregnant women; people with heart disease, lung disease, diabetes; asthma; HIV.  This list is updated periodically by the CDC, so please refer to their website for the most accurate information.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND FOR SHOPPING WITH US

Coronavirus Response Update : New Hours

March 17, 2020

Effective Wednesday, March 18th and until further notice:

Western Market will open at 9A each day to the general public.

Western Market will be open from 8A-9A each day for shoppers at greatest risk for contracting coronavirus.  This is limited to seniors and individuals with compromised immune systems.  

We pledge to provide access to our products in the safest environment possible for all customers.  We request that our community respect the provisions of this operational change. Please do not shop during 8A-9A each morning if you are not at greater risk for contracting coronavirus, per CDC guidelines.  

At this time will remain open 7-days per week and close at our normal, posted times (9P Mon-Sat, 7P Sun). 

Coronavirus Response Update

March 16, 2020

As the coronavirus situation progresses, we have made some important operational changes that take into account all current directives from federal, state and local government agencies.  In addition to the changes we implemented on 3/11/20 (see bottom of message for details), we have made the following changes, effective immediately:

1. The Salad Bar is closed.  Product has been removed.  Packaged salads are available in our Produce Cooler.  Large format salads are available from our catering menu: www.westernmkt.com/catering.
2. The Soup Bar is closed but soups are still available.  We are currently offering our full daily menus of soups: www.westernmkt.com/daily-soups, now available at the Prepared Foods counter.  Prepared Foods staff will fulfill orders on a first-come-first-serve basis at the walk-up counter. We are also pre-packing soups for self-service.
3. We are not accepting bottle deposit returns, temporarily.  You can save your returns for redemption at a later date (TBD) or utilize curbside recycling programs, which will donate the deposit to various Trust Funds, administered by the Michigan Treasury.   
4. We are not accepting product returns, temporarily. Unless the product is defective, we will be unable to accept returned product at this time.  
5. We have dedicated staff for sanitization tasks.  We have assigned at least one staff member to perform only sanitization tasks throughout the day.  These staff members will be wearing neon yellow safety vests.  If you need sanitization assistance, please seek them out or notify another staff member.  
6. We cannot guarantee stock levels for any products.  If you call or message us to inquire about stock levels of a particular item, we will not be able to give you a firm answer.  Many items are selling quickly and stock levels are changing by the hour. Our buyers are working diligently to secure products for re-stocking but ultimately, our ability to maintain stock levels depends on our suppliers.
7. Our cashiers will bypass signature requirement for credit card transactions. Shoppers who prefer/need to use the pin pad for debit and EBT transactions must wear a provided disposable glove to complete the transaction.

Original Communication 3/11/20:

Western Market has protocols in place to protect our community of employees and customers from the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).  We’d like to share what were doing:

1. We are sanitizing all commonly touched surfaces throughout the day, on a regular schedule.  This includes knobs; countertops; bathroom surfaces; baskets and carts; serving utensils; phones; registers; and scales. 
2. Our employees are using new gloves when they touch product and commonly used tools.
3. We have added additional sanitizing stations throughout the store.  
4. We have ordered as much sanitizer and soap as we can get from our distributors and we promise to NEVER mark up these items.
5. We have discontinued active demos and passive sampling until further notice.
6. We have implemented protocols for employee symptom monitoring.  
7. We have posted signage about COVID-19 and proper hygiene practices throughout the store – please take a moment to review these as you shop.

Our Executive Team is actively monitoring guidelines and best practices provided by the CDC, Oakland County and the State of Michigan.  Our response will adjust if/as needed, so stay tuned for updates.  

New Catering System!

We’re very excited to announce some big changes to our catering system. To better serve you, we’re moving our catering platform online! In the past, customers have had to call in to order. We’re still happy to take your phone calls! But with our new online catering platform, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Order using your smartphone, tablet or computer.
  

• Make an account with us, check out our menu and order easily.

• Choose in-store pickups or delivery options with just a few clicks!

• Access our full menu with item descriptions and pictures of the items you’re interested in.

• Easily make substitutions and customizations and see all of your options.

• Store multiple contacts, addresses and payment information for easy processing. Great for businesses with frequent catering needs!

• Leave us special notes about your account or order. Do you have allergies or dietary restrictions we need to know about?

Check it out at: westernmkt.com/catering