Local shopkeepers have been going far beyond the call of duty in communities nationwide, Vincent Jennings CEO of The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) said.
“Amid this time of fear and uncertainty we are also hearing wonderful stories of how our members are reinventing how they do business to serve the needs of their most vulnerable customers," Jennings said.
"The newsagents and convenience store owners we represent serve a far greater purpose to the community than simply providing a newspaper or a loaf of bread," he added.
Overnight Transformation
Retailers nationwide have transformed how they do business almost overnight, with many offering telephone and online ordering to enable collection or a beep and boot drop service as well as dedicated delivery services, the group highlighted.
"Every day we are hearing heart-warming stories of our members filling their van with supplies and stopping off for medicines (and even some holy water) along the way as they personally deliver to those most vulnerable in their local communities, many of whom have been cocooning for a lot longer than the recent imposed restrictions," said Jennings.
Brexit Ready
In terms of essential groceries, Jennings said that there is no shortage of supply and that the government and industry as a whole are 'quite confident of that'.
"In fact, Ireland is probably one of the best placed countries in the world in that regard, " he added.
"We were so well prepared for the possibility of a hard Brexit that increased capacity warehousing, distribution and supply chains were already established and ready to go, so we urge the public not to stockpile and to shop when you can at your local store to support them as much as possible during these turbulent times.”
CSNA is Ireland’s largest independent retailer representative body, representing over 1,500 convenience store owners, newsagents and forecourt operators nationwide.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
