Ryan Beauchene from Red Pheasant First Nation who has a large family said having purchase limits on certain grocery items during the COVID-19 situation has made it better for his family to find what they need. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Basic needs

Customers don’t mind limits during COVID-19 if they can find what they need

Mar 23, 2020 | 5:35 PM

Ryan Beauchene from Red Pheasant First Nation had a full cart as he returned from shopping at Frazer’s No Frills grocery store in North Battleford on the weekend.

While some residents had concerns about not being able to find some items like toilet paper during the COVID-19 situation he hasn’t had any problems.

“This is just our regular shopping,” Beauchene said. “We get lots every month because we have nine children.”

Beauchene said with COVID-19 the family is staying home as much as possible to be safe, and is eating in.

“We are getting as much as we can, hoping things go good with the world,” he said.

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Jimmy Hayat from North Battleford said he is finding it frustrating trying to find the items he needs to purchase on his list while doing his shopping in North Battleford.

“Almost everything is short,” he said as he was getting ready to start his shopping. “Every time we need something… shelves are empty, and we can’t get whatever we want.”

At Cut Knife AG Foods grocery store, co-owner Michael Wismer said he has to limit purchases for a number of items in order to ensure there are enough products in stock for everyone.

At times he has to set limits on certain purchases, depending on how much product comes in, so more people have access to what they need for such items as toilet paper, disinfectants, and even flour and sugar that are in high demand.

“I’ll put limits on it to make sure no one is coming in and buying 30 kilograms of flour,” he said, so if two other customers look for a 10 kg bag they will be able to find it.

“It’s going quick,” Wismer added of the product. “There are definitely big orders. They are buying more than normal.”

Wismer said the store has expanded its delivery and pick-up services for residents in the rural area to meet the need, and help those who are self-isolating as a precaution.

“It’s just to help them out,” he said. “It also serves as a means to eliminate some of the traffic in-store.”

Wismer said the store also arranges a central drop-off spot for customers. So staff can drop groceries outside beside a customer’s vehicle at a certain time, for example. Then the customer can load them up after the staff leaves as an option.

“I think it’s gone over fairly well,” Wismer said. “We are a small town. I personally know the people needing the service. I know of people who have respiratory issues that should be scared to come out.”

At Discovery Co-op Food Store, General Manager Mike Nord encourages people to only buy what they need so there is enough product for others.

The Co-op has grocery stores in North Battleford, Battleford and Glaslyn in the local area.

Nord said the company put a limit on some items such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer to better manage the stock.

“There is some panic buying a little bit. People are buying far more than they need for just the week,” Nord said. “They are buying for what is much longer.”

The stores have been very busy due to COVID-19.

“Every food store in the country is in the same kind of shape,” Nord said. “We are lucky here in that we have some really incredible team members who are stepping up, and working hard to try and get product out for people.”

Nord is asking people not to panic buy so there will be more stock available.

“My advice is: Try and get what you need for the week,” Nord said. “If people can do that, the supply chain will catch up.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow