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> Well, these store have to stay open, no matter what. No, they certainly don't. What's necessary is that people get food. How they get it is open to discussio

> Well, these store have to stay open, no matter what. No, they certainly don't. What's necessary is that people get food. How they get it is open to discussion.

Mediterraneo10 7y ago
Food-delivery services in many countries are overburdened even with the local supermarkets remaining open. There may be room for discussion about a universal food-delivery system for future lockdowns, but right now supermarkets are the only realistic way for the population to get their sustenance.
kyleee 7y ago
These supply chains are well oiled machines compared to new and untested emergency methods of procuring and delivering food to an entire nation, but I'm willing to hear other suggestions out of interest
- ken 7y ago
  Most stores in my area are offering free curbside pickup now. Moving to pickup-only would significantly lower the human contact, both employee/customer and customer/customer. Nobody is talking about giving up on existing supply chains. Just the employee/product/customer mosh pit at the end. That final part where customers perform a random walk around a warehouse until they've found everything is not a "well oiled machine". Better to hire some professional shoppers who know where everything is. It'll be faster and safer. Even if you insist on remaining open to the general public walking around your store, there's a million things you can do. Some stores are limiting the number of customers in the store at one time. Some stores are requiring face masks. Some stores are marking aisles as "one-way" to make it easier to maintain distance. The last store I was in had plastic film over the payment keypads, and sanitized it between customers. We know how to improve things. There's just not a ton of consistency yet.
  - kyleee 7y ago
    Agree with you about the pickup part, I think that's a reasonable pivot. I was only referencing the supply chain portion with the "well oiled machine" bit and was just worried about drastic changes that would significantly alter the functioning of the existing distribution of goods. I'm totally on board with all the the smaller optimizations you mention

> Well, these store have to stay open, no matter what. No, they certainly don't. What's necessary is that people get food. How they get it is open to discussion.

Mediterraneo10 7y ago

Food-delivery services in many countries are overburdened even with the local supermarkets remaining open. There may be room for discussion about a universal food-delivery system for future lockdowns, but right now supermarkets are the only realistic way for the population to get their sustenance.

kyleee 7y ago

These supply chains are well oiled machines compared to new and untested emergency methods of procuring and delivering food to an entire nation, but I'm willing to hear other suggestions out of interest

ken 7y ago
Most stores in my area are offering free curbside pickup now. Moving to pickup-only would significantly lower the human contact, both employee/customer and customer/customer. Nobody is talking about giving up on existing supply chains. Just the employee/product/customer mosh pit at the end. That final part where customers perform a random walk around a warehouse until they've found everything is not a "well oiled machine". Better to hire some professional shoppers who know where everything is. It'll be faster and safer. Even if you insist on remaining open to the general public walking around your store, there's a million things you can do. Some stores are limiting the number of customers in the store at one time. Some stores are requiring face masks. Some stores are marking aisles as "one-way" to make it easier to maintain distance. The last store I was in had plastic film over the payment keypads, and sanitized it between customers. We know how to improve things. There's just not a ton of consistency yet.
- kyleee 7y ago
  Agree with you about the pickup part, I think that's a reasonable pivot. I was only referencing the supply chain portion with the "well oiled machine" bit and was just worried about drastic changes that would significantly alter the functioning of the existing distribution of goods. I'm totally on board with all the the smaller optimizations you mention