Publix puts store capacity limits in the hands of managers

Dive Brief:

Lakeland, Florida-based Publix said it will not follow the lead of other grocers and impose a company-wide limit on the number of people permitted in stores at a single time, the Tampa Bay Business Journal first reported.
“Our store managers have the discretion, unless otherwise required by ordinance, to monitor the capacity within his/her store and make the decision to limit the number of customers and associates at any one time in the store, in order to practice social distancing,” Maria Brous, director of communications for Publix, told Grocery Dive in an email. “Store managers handle the surges in volume throughout the day to best serve our customers and communities.”
Brous told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that the retailer isn’t implementing a company-wide occupancy rule because customer traffic, square footage and surges vary by store location.

Dive Insight:

Publix’s decision to leave store capacity limits in the hands of managers comes after employees at multiple supermarkets have tested positive for coronavirus or were suspected of having been exposed to the virus.

Because social distancing hasn’t been enforced by all grocers, state legislators have stepped in. Just this week, Massachusetts said it will require all grocery stores with a maximum capacity over 25 to limit capacity to 40% of their occupancy cap, with employees and customers taken into account. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order to cap the number of customers in stores at 50% of normal capacity, and Connecticut has implemented a similar ruling.

North Carolina governor Roy Cooper plans to sign an executive order on Thursday that restricts the number of people allowed at once in essential businesses. Meanwhile, Ohio is requiring all essential businesses to establish their own limits based on square footage and foot traffic.

"We're not telling them the number because businesses are all different. But businesses must determine their number and post it." Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced last Thursday.

Publix’s home state of Florida has not yet enforced a customer limit in stores. Outside of Florida, no state where Publix operates has yet issued an order restricting the number of customers.

Despite DeWine's suggestion, Ohio-based Kroger has followed what most municipalities have recommended by capping the number of shoppers allowed in all of its stores to 50% of capacity under the building code.

Walmart also enforced limits this week. The company said it will no longer allow more than five customers per 1,000 square feet, which is about 20% of store capacity. Walmart said it wants to prioritize health and safety by encouraging shoppers to shop from a distance and then leave the store.