PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. -- Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin Inc., because of the swine flu (H1N1) situation, has instituted a program effective immediately in all of its locations out of "concerned for the health and welfare of both our employees and customers," said Jim Schutz, vice president of people assets told CSP Daily News.
Nearly 300 schools around the country closed as the U.S. swine flu caseload passed 100 Thursday, according to an Associated Press report. So far, there has been one U.S. death, a child in Texas. The current outbreak is believed to [image-nocss] have begun in Mexico. Approximately 3,000 cases have been reported worldwide.
A Kraft/CSP Daily News Poll yesterday that asked "what is your level of concern about swine flu?" found that 6.5% of the approximately 190 respondents said "very high," 13% said "high," 36.4% said "medium," 31.5% said "low" and 12.5% said "very low." (Please be sure to vote in today's poll.)
Pleasant Prairie, Wis.-based Open Pantry issued the following statement to its stores regarding the swine flu outbreak:
Today we delivered to your store hand sanitizer with pumps to be displayed on the sales counter to be used by both you and your customers. We are offering this with your health in mind. Please use this sanitizer as one of many ways to stay healthy during this recent outbreak of the swine flu. I would also ask that you inform your customers that we are concerned for their health it is for their use.
We also delivered nonlatex, nonpowered gloves to be used when handling money during transactions with customers. The use of these gloves is voluntary and is being offered to you as an additional measure to staying healthy.
Your continued good health is important to Open Pantry. As a valued employee of Open Pantry we want to offer you these health safety measures. Illness is not fun, its costly to both you as lost time from work and costly to Open Pantry as we loose your talents to service our customers.
I encourage you to take part in the use of the sanitizer and gloves. Happy, Healthy Smiling faces is what makes Open Pantry a great place to work and shop.
Separate, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has canceled its Future Conference over travel concerns during the outbreak.
In related channel news, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has decided to postpone its Future Connect leadership development conference scheduled for May 4-6 and the MARKETECHNICS technology event May 5-8, in Dallas, because of the flu outbreak.
"The increased urgency of the alerts from health officials...and the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Dallas County Department of Health & Human Services confirmed our decision to not host a large gathering where attendees would be in close proximity. We seek to support their recommended precautions and prevention steps and would not want to contribute to spread of the virus in any way," said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI.
"We agonized over this difficult and critical decision, but are certain that the No. 1 priority of America's food retailers, wholesalers and suppliers right now is to look out for the health and safety of their customers, employees and the communities they serve across the country and around the globe."
Click herefor the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's flu website.
Andclick here for the federal government's flu outbreak information website, which includes an updated map of confirmed H1N1 cases.
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