Rosauers Supermarkets reducing hours to clean and stock products

Erin Robinson by Erin Robinson, Maher Kawash

By Caldorwards4 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

SPOKANE, Wash. — Rosauers Supermarkets have limited their hours of operation temporarily as their staff works to keep up with demands amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Stores, including the Super 1 on the South Hill, will temporarily operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In a Facebook post, the store said the new schedule will be in place until further notice to ensure associates can clean and stock products.

The local grocery chain is just one of several around the country that are changing their hours to cope with shoppers. Large national chains like Kroger and Walmart have done the same.

Rosauers President Jeff Phillips said the last time he saw panic-buying like this was after 9/11. He said there is plenty of food and cleaning supplies are being stocked daily.

Phillips said the stores are also implementing other practices in an effort to keep shoppers safe, like keeping an employee at the door to sanitize carts as people need them. The company is also considering special shopping times for seniors.

President Trump spoke to large grocery corporations and supply chain executives last week. White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere at the time said supply chains were strong and Americans should not hoard products.

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READ: Coronavirus Guide: Staying up-to-date on cases, who to call and how to prepare

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