Florida-based grocery chain won't require masks: 'We don't want to cause undue friction'

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Winn-Dixie, a popular supermarket chain in the South, is facing backlash after it announced that, unlike several of its competitors, it will not require customers to wear face masks inside its stores.

In a statement obtained by TODAY on Sunday, a spokesperson for Southeastern Grocers, Winn-Dixie's parent company, said: "Currently, we are adhering to all local safety mandates within each of our stores and strongly encouraging those who are medically able to wear a face covering to do so."

The statement also addressed the reasoning behind the decision.

"We do not want to cause undue friction between our customers and associates by regulating mask mandates, and we strongly encourage state officials to lead the way in regulating these type of safety mandates," it read.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/florida-based-grocery-chain-won-t-require-masks-we-don-t-want-to-cause-undue-friction/ar-BB16WeQq?ocid=msedgntp

[Merlot]

1. "medically able to wear masks?" Sigh.

[Moostache]

2. Boycott them then.

Any store NOT requiring masks at this point is not getting my business now or once we return to a new normal in the future. They are dead to me. If I travel through the south or to my parents in Florida, Winn-Dixie will get nothing, ever.

[rockfordfile]

26. I agree. It seems they support Americans getting infected and dying

Food is essential but that store doesn't give a crap about you

[LakeArenal]

3. Buh-bye. Drive ole Dixie down

[elleng]

4. 'don't want to cause undue friction,' but

sickness and death is just fine.



REALLY, wondering are people here in southern Maryland REALLY that much smarter than others, like those in Florida?

NO PROBLEMS with people distancing and wearing masks, it's a given @ grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants, here.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. Limited Time Offer! Shop here before you die! . . . They want to corner the market on stupid. . .nt

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Cowardly Doubletalk!

We want masks, but not really badly, and besides it's someone else's job and we're doing all the right things except for this mask thing and....

We really don't care if our employees get sick!

That piece, they didn't say but they meant it.

[Blue_true]

33. I was in a Best Buy recently. All the employees and 98% of customers were

wearing masks. The anti-maskers stuck out like a bright red spot in a sea of blue, the two or three that I saw walked around looking silly and left fast. The very, very busy, lots of people coming in and walking around shopping.

[ProfessorGAC]

35. I've Seen The Same

A few tools being rebels without a clue or a cause.
On the bright side (I wrote an OP on it) the Walmart in the town 20 miles west was enforcing the policy. This was before corporate set a mandate.
I actually saw a guy get kicked out for not being masked.
Let's hope there's more of this enforcement.
Everyone else cooperates, the tools will be forced.

[usedtobedemgurl]

6. I Believe Everyone Should Wear Masks....

That being said, our Harris Teeter grocery chain will not make people wear masks. I was outraged and ready to not give them any more business. I talked to a higher up and they said their employees are not equipped to enforce anything. After seeing things like people shot, run down by a cart, etc. I can see why stores may fair. The other side is out if control. I don’t know if they should hire full time cops with guns to enforce such ordinances. Would that end up in a shoot out, with many people being killed?!?! I personally think all grocery stores should be shut to the public. There should only be pick up or delivery. Same with hardware places and anything else that is actually deemed essential. Until I bought a grocery pick up subscription, the inside of the store is where I felt most vulnerable. Let people not wear masks in their cars.

[rownesheck]

19. I totally agree.

I work in grocery and the concern is that the employees are going to get their asses kicked, shot, screamed at, etc. People wanting to boycott should ask themselves if they would like to be put in the situation to confront a maskless nutjob.

I've been on vacation for the past 10 days and just read that beginning July 27, my company is not going to let anyone in the store without a mask. I agree with that policy, but am now super concerned about my employees. I predict lots of face punching coming my way.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. Sounds like in a time of high unemployment the store is too cheap to hire security guards. . . nt

[Freethinker65]

7. Causing undue deaths of our customers, we're okay with

[Disaffected]

8. They probably view it as a smart business policy

All the goobers who won't wear a mask will flock to their stores, in greater numbers than those who stay away.

[Zorro]

10. You got it

They probably calculated it gives them a competitive advantage over Publix and other grocery chains.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Until Masked Shoppers Take Their Biz Elsewhere

In some places, it may not matter.
In others, the mask policy is a smart business move.

[Blue_true]

31. Their stores aren't close to being as good as their top rivals, Publix and Walmart.

It is no loss for me, I never shop there. Now maybe they attract the anti-maskers and other people shop elsewhere.

[spinbaby]

9. I only shop at stores that enforce masks

This morning I went to Petsmart for cat supplies. A man and his school-age daughter were openly wandering around without masks. I avoided him like the plague monster he was and told the cashier I wouldn’t be shopping here anymore because they let in people without masks.

[Bengus81]

11. Yeah...Covid is all but gone in Florida

Who the HELL would go to Florida right now unless you just wanted to die??

[TheBlackAdder]

12. Kind of makes one question their meat and deli handling.

[lpbk2713]

13. Not a problem for me. I haven't shopped there in years.

I've always thought their stores were dirty.

[mitch96]

18. "I haven't shopped there in years."

Their prices are sort of high also. The infrequent times I go there, the place is empty and the parking lot is too. I don't know how they stay in business.. Publix is so much better.. and less expensive..
m

[Ferrets are Cool]

14. I will never set foot in one again. nt

[Chainfire]

15. In other words

We are corporate cowards.

[Sunsky]

16. I know where I won't be shopping

I hardly shopped there anyway.

[Blue_true]

30. There stores are pretty weak. Publix and Walmart have blown them away.

I really hope that the anti-maskers shop there (they won’t), though I would feel bad for staff.

[customerserviceguy]

17. It's a tough decision

Do we really want grocery store clerks to get the blowback from the covidiots who would try to rile something up? Their jobs are difficult enough as it is. It won't be the board of directors going store to store to confront Trump humpers.

[DFW]

20. Never heard of them

So the danger of me finding myself inside on of them is minimal at best

[Blue_true]

29. Was at one time the major grocery chain in the Deep South.

It was the very last to integrate it’s stores, holding out into the very late 60s’. Even after it integrated, my Mom avoided the stores, choosing to shop at Publix instead. The A&P became one of the first American companies to be victimized by leveraged buyout pirates and no longer exists - it was excellent on integration, I remember my Mom shopping there when I was a little boy, that was my first experience being shoulder to shoulder with White people.

[madville]

23. It's really a no win situation for the store

That chain has many stores in impoverished small towns/counties with large minority populations and higher crime areas in larger cities. Their employees should not be confronting customers directly in any scenario, at best they could tell employees to call the police on any non-mask wearers and have them trespassed officially by law enforcement but that creates potential for other negative interactions.

[Blue_true]

27. That isn't true. Winn Dixie was the very last southern grocery chain to integrate.

I live in the South and am Black. Winn Dixie put it’s stores in the “White” parts of cities when that existed down here. The A&P was much more likely to put stores in reach of Black customers and it was the first to integrate it’s stores. Publix was somewhere between The A&P and Winn Dixie.

[madville]

28. I'm talking about now, not 50 years ago

Those old white parts of the cities from 50 years ago are now majority minority in many cases as white people fled further out. Publix is in all the mostly white areas while Winn Dixie is more in the poorer and minority areas.

[Blue_true]

32. In my area, what you indicated is not correct.

Walmart put stores anywhere near big streets, without regard to the racial makeup of the area. Publix follows a similar pattern, IMO. Winn Dixie barely exists where I live, I know of one in a mostly White area, but the Publix on a major street nearby gets far more customer traffic, and is closer to both mostly Black and highly integrated neighborhoods.

[madville]

36. I'm from North Florida where many Winn Dixie stores are

Most of the Winn Dixies are in old shopping centers and the older parts of towns and they haven’t been remodeled in decades. They’re always on the verge of bankruptcy.

Publix is one of the high-tier shopping options, most of the Publix stores are in the middle and upper class areas, tons of new ones built in the last twenty years, it’s a thriving company that is employee owned.

[Blue_true]

37. Both of us could be right on the now situation.

In my town, I think there is like one Winn Dixie that I know of, I went in once, the store was old and oranges were dried out. I never went back. Publix and Walmart seem to be everywhere, their stores are new and well laid out and things like bread, fruit and vegetables are fresh.

[Blue_true]

24. In the South, Winn Dixie was the last grocery chain to allow African Americans to shop in it.

The A&P chain allowed African Americans in either before or after the Civil Rights Act was passed. Publix followed suit a few years later. Winn Dixie held out into the late 60s’ and gave in only after protests targeted it.

In a way, I hope that all the anti maskers go to Winn Dixie to shop, that way other people can shop showing consideration for each other.

[Wounded Bear]

34. Apparently, only RW maskholes get to cause "friction" any more...

[VA_Jill]

38. Today

in tiny Timberville, VA, there were people outside the local Walmart enforcing the mask order, and they WEREN'T KIDDING!

[Vinca]

39. I noticed our local Hannafords had a mask monitor at the door today.

It's not that big of a deal in my blue neck of the woods and I doubt they have to remind anyone but out-of-staters.

[GoCubsGo]

40. They also now own the Bi-Lo chain.

I assume it holds for those stores, as well. Bi-Lo used to be one of my favorite places to shop, but they went drastically downhill under their new ownership. I rarely have reason to set foot in their stores, and this give me yet another reason to stay away. Granted, my town just instituted a mask order, so they no choice here.

[jmg257]

41. How about having "associates" whose job it is to enforce? Some ass puts everyone in the entire

store at risk because you don't want the responsibility?

Community response, I guess.

Hmmm...wonder if they have shoplifting prevention officers there?