VIDEO: Grocery stores gearing up for social distancing

No matter how hard we work to maintain social distancing, going to stock up on groceries makes it difficult. That's why stores are finding new ways to keep shoppers and employees safer and more separated.

Vernon-based Nature's Fare has been placing glass barriers between customers and staff at the point of sale.

"We have installed Plexi screens at the checkouts in Vernon, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton," said Nature's Fare's Michael Sherwood, "and are working on Kamloops, Langley and White Rock."

He admits, keeping social distance isn't easy at a grocery store. "Our staff are working diligently and quickly responding to the changing and challenging environment," Sherwood added. "Being smaller has worked in our favour and as I stated on the phone it is much more challenging for the retailer with hundreds of locations to react as quickly. I have no doubt all retailers are doing their best."

Customers seem to like it. "I quite appreciated that actually," said one customer. "It's very good to see that," said another. "It's a good safety measure."

Peters, Your Independent Grocer in Kelowna, has similar barriers in place, and they are rolling out at Real Canadian Superstores as well.

Barb Hill, at Kelowna's Lakeview Market, is looking into doing the same.

"I've heard they look fantastic and we've hired someone to look into getting the same thing for us also," said Hill. "One of my biggest concerns is to protect our employees. We want to feed people. We want to keep feeding people, but one of the hardest things right now is trying to protect the wonderful people who work for us."

While ordering groceries online may sound like the perfect solution, grocery stores are having a hard time keeping up with demand. In an e-mail message, Darrel Jones from Save-On-Foods asked customers to "...leave our online ordering service to those who aren't able to get to the store, including seniors, people with disabilities and those who are ill."