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Grocers praise staff during hectic time

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Drafted in: Zoila Johnston, a MarketPlace staff member was sent to the shopping floor at Shelly Bay MarketPlace as a cashier (Photograph supplied)

Supermarket workers have been praised for pulling out all the stops to keep the island supplied with food and other essentials during the Covid-19 crisis.

Mitchell Foote, the assistant manager of Shelly Bay MarketPlace, said his exhausted staff had “dug their heels in” and got on with the job, despite sometimes stressed-out customers.

Mr Foote added: “I’ve been in the business 25 years and I’ve never seen it like this. I’ve seen buying in preparation for a hurricane, but nothing on this scale.

“Once we heard the coronavirus was an epidemic, it had people worried. Once it escalated to a pandemic, everyone started panic-buying — in some cases hoarding.”

Mr Foote added: “It’s been very difficult keeping up with the pace of demand — I am proud of everybody here.”

He said staff had endured “very hectic, very stressful at times” conditions for almost four weeks as the Covid-19 virus tightened its grip around the world.

Mr Foote said: “We’re getting tired, but we have a good team here that has risen to the task and shown a high level of determination to keep these shelves full.

“I have to give credit to the team and to management, not just here at Shelly Bay, but everywhere.”

Mr Foote said workers had protective gear and sanitised their hands as they dealt with “thousands” of customers every day. He added long queues had not diminished — a scene repeated at other MarketPlace stores such as Heron Bay in Southampton, or Church Street, Hamilton. Mr Foote said: “Customers are scared. This is new, it’s a novel virus and they’re worried the Bermuda supply will get cut off, so they are here buying a lot more than usual.”

However, he added: “You can’t blame people. It’s a pandemic. Its uncertain what’s going to happen one day to the next.”

He said customers were much more organised, particularly since shopping days were allocated by surname, after a “chaotic” start.

Mr Foote added a total of 50 customers at a time were allowed into the store to preserve social-distancing and also prevent staff from getting “rushed off their feet and overwhelmed”.

He said staff welcomed shoppers wearing masks and gloves, but called social-distancing “most important — we are all in this fight together”.

Mr Foote said the Good Friday break brought “a well needed rest for everyone”.

He added: “Cashiers deserve a lot of credit. First thing in the morning, there are lines waiting for them. They’re here to closing and after closing. I’m proud of this company and everyone who works for the company.”

Zoila Johnston, who joined the supermarket chain last June, said the volume of customers was “amazing”.

She was drafted from a different department three weeks ago to work as a cashier. Ms Johnston said: “With Covid-19, it’s a marathon that keeps going, going, going.”

She added queues had stretched “out to the road and up the hill” at times.

Ms Johnston said: “Staff are coping well under the circumstances. We know we have to serve the public. A lot of people are edgy right now.”

She added that staff had to rush after a customer on Thursday who had paid for her groceries and then left them behind.

Ms Johnston said: “That shows you how everyone has this on their minds.”

Customers were “thanking us for being on the front lines — they realise it’s a serious time” and said Mike Shannon, the manager, was doing the work of “20 people in one body — he’s holding it together for all of us”.

Jahchey Tyrell, who dealt with online orders on Thursday, said it was “nonstop, no days off, full shifts”.

She added: “This is the first time we have worked so intensely. I would say we’re all a bit tired.”

She said customers were “trying to be protective of themselves”, but were “extremely understanding and appreciative”.

Ms Tyrell said she was “already a clean freak” but was constantly washing or sanitising her hands, wearing gloves, and cleans her work area regularly. She added: “I’m staying hydrated and always take my vitamins.”

She said she planned to celebrate Good Friday with the traditional trimmings — despite the disruption to normal life.

Ms Tyrell added: “I’m still having my fish cakes — I can’t have my holiday without fish cakes and hot cross buns.”

Understanding customers: Jahchey Tyrell, a cashier at Shelly Bay MarketPlace (Photograph supplied)
In the fight together: Mitchell Foote, the assistant manager at the Shelly Bay MarketPlace (Photograph supplied)