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As Australians flock to supermarkets in droves despite calls to stop panic hoarding, Coles (ASX: COL) is taking action to bolser its capacity and cope with increased demand.
In an email to flybuys members today, Coles Group CEO said the company was recruiting 5,000 new team members.
"To help us continue to offer the best possible service to customers during this busy time, we are recruiting an additional 5,000 casual team members to join our supermarkets across Australia," Cain said.
"This will allow us to serve more customers and replenish shelves faster, while offering employment opportunities for Australians in industries impacted by COVID-19.
"We'll be fast-tracking inductions so we can boost the number of team members on the shop floor as quickly as possible."
Coles is following Woolworths' (ASX: WOW) lead in introducing an additional hour of trading exclusively for the elderly and disadvantaged, which will be known as "Community Hour" and take place between 7-8am from Monday to Friday. To be eligible customers will need to present one of the following:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Companion Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Health Care Card
- Seniors Card
- Disability Card
Coles Group adds store managers will use sensible discretion and compassion to ensure vulnerable customers who require access are able to complete their shopping during Community Hour.
In order to allow everyone to purchase staple items, Coles will have a one-pack limit per person on toilet paper and enforce limits of two items per person for the following items:
- Pasta
- Flour
- Dry rice
- Paper towels
- Paper tissues
- Hand sanitisers
- Mince meat includes Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken & Turkey
- Eggs
- Chilled pasta
- Frozen vegetables
- Frozen desserts
- Sugar
- UHT long-life milk
- Canned tomatoes
- Liquid soap
- Chilled white milk includes all sizes of Coles Brand and branded white dairy milk, plant-based non-dairy and goats milk sold chilled in our dairy fridges in supermarkets and at Coles Express
German-owned supermarket Aldi will be changing its store opening hours to 9.30am-7pm from today as it faces an onslaught of customers.
Aldi says the revision of its trading hours will enable employees to take adequate breaks, restock shelves for customers, and get stock onto trucks and into stores.
"Please think before you buy and only buy what you and your family need," says Aldi.
"If we all do this, then we can make sure we have enough for everyone."
Updated at 1:28pm AEDT on 18 March 2020.
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