GCH Retail introduces dedicated shopping hours for vulnerable groups

KUALA LUMPUR (March 24): GCH Retail (M) Sdn Bhd, which operates Giant, TMC, Cold Storage, Mercato, GEkspres and ShopSmart stores, is introducing dedicated shopping hours in all stores nationwide to ensure that the elderly and other vulnerable groups get access to food and other essentials during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

In a statement today, GCH Retail said the new initiative starts this week on every Tuesday and Wednesday during the first hour of trading.

The company has also designated special checkout lanes for this group of customers during normal operating hours to accommodate those who cannot shop during the dedicated hours.

“These measures were prompted by the recent spike in demand in supermarkets during this period, which may have caused many elderly and vulnerable people in the community missing out on vital items they need,” it said.

GCH Retail is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd.

Commenting on the new initiative, Dairy Farm group chief executive officer of Southeast Asia food, Chris Bush, said as one of the few essential firms allowed to operate during the MCO period, GCH Retail is committed to ensuring customers have access to items they need.

“We recognise that our stores are exceptionally busy during this difficult period and therefore to support our most vulnerable customers, we are implementing a dedicated shopping time in our stores as well as dedicated checkout lanes at all times to ensure our more vulnerable customers get what they need,” he said.

On top of this move, GCH Retail has also implemented social distancing measures at the checkout lanes across all their stores.

“Floor markers have been placed at checkout areas to remind customers of the government-recommended distance to adhere to while waiting.

“In addition, sanitising stations have been placed at the entrance and each cashier lane for added hygiene precautions,” it added.

GCH Retail said it also ensures frequent sanitisation of trolleys, baskets and cashier counters, and has also implemented customer temperature checks at the entrance.

Stay home. Get the news fromtheedgemarkets.com.