LAKEWOOD, Colo., July 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As COVID-19
cases continue to rise across the country, Natural Grocers has
announced that, effective immediately, all customers 10 and older,
or per the age limit established by state or local ordinance, are
required to wear a face covering while shopping, unless doing so
would impair their health. With this new policy, customers
will be joining Natural Grocers' good4uSM Crew members,
who have been wearing face coverings since April to help slow the
spread of COVID-19. Natural Grocers will provide free face
coverings, as supplies allow, to customers who do not have
one.
"From the beginning of the pandemic, we have made every decision
with the safety and health of our Crew and our communities at the
forefront of our minds. The CDC has made it very clear that wearing
face masks, along with social distancing and frequent hand washing,
are our greatest defenses against the spread of COVID-19," remarked
Heather Isely, Natural Grocers'
Executive Vice President. "As an essential business, it is our
responsibility to do everything we can to continue providing fresh,
high quality natural and organic groceries to the communities we
serve, while at the same time keeping our Crew and customers as
safe as possible. For all these reasons, we have implemented this
new policy for all of our customers."
As an in-store shopping alternative, home delivery is available
via Instacart at the majority of the company's stores. Currently,
Hailey, ID, Pagosa Springs, CO, and Salida, CO stores do not have a delivery
option.
The new face covering policy has been instituted for all 159
Natural Grocers stores located in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa,
Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah,
Washington and Wyoming. While there are numerous face
covering mandates currently in place across the country, the new
policy will bring consistency across all Natural Grocers
stores.
All stores have implemented multiple protocols to protect the
health and well-being of customers and Crew during the COVID-19
pandemic, such as social distancing, enhanced cleaning of
frequently touched surfaces, plexiglass guards installed at all
registers, customer limits, special shopping hours for seniors and
more. To learn more about Natural Grocers' COVID-19 policies that
offer a clean and safe as possible shopping and working environment
visit: www.naturalgrocers.com/coronavirus-updates
About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural
Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com)
is an expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural
groceries, body care products, and dietary supplements. The company
offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format, affordable prices,
and free, science-based Nutrition Education programs to help
customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Founded in
Colorado in 1955, Natural Grocers
has more than 3,500 employees and operates 159 stores in 20
states. Follow Natural Grocers on social media
via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
#NaturalGrocers
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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.