Local grocery store stepping up to high delivery demand

Lakeview Fine Foods in south Regina has been delivering groceries for a long time, but with many people isolated at home due to COVID-19, the store has become an essential service for supplies.

While many stores are just beginning to offer online orders and delivery, Lakeview Fine Foods has been taking orders for delivery by phone for many years.

Mike Veitch has been working at the local grocery store for years making deliveries, but now he has a new checklist of his own supplies in the van including gloves and hand sanitizer.

“We’re just trying to be as safe as possible and a lot of these customers just got back from their holidays so they’re really understanding with (supplies) just being dropped on their step,” Veitch said.

He said the store doesn’t even take credit cards on delivery anymore; everything has to be done by phone so there is no face-to-face contact.

The store itself has also implemented a few changes, like arrows directing one-way traffic down the aisles to maintain a safe social distance of six feet or two metres between customers. Check-out counters have a new plexiglas barrier and customers are encouraged to use cards instead of cash to pay.

The store is also open for a couple of hours on Sunday just for seniors and people with disabilities.

While many retail stores have had to close or get creative with online options, work at the grocery store is in high gear. Veitch said the delivery service is seeing more demand than ever before.

“Deliveries are four times busier, maybe possibly even five times with what’s sitting in the store. We’ve got probably 100 (orders) that have to be completed by Sunday,” Veitch said in an interview late last week.

Veitch said he has a couple of delivery drivers helping him out and Lakeview Fine Foods has brought in extra help to keep shelves stocked and sanitized. In many ways, he sees the benefits of working in a job that is vital right now.

“It feels good. Obviously I know people are at home working, but we can’t be at home working and people need to eat,” he said.

While there are benefits to being able to maintain some normal face-to-face interaction with co-workers, there are many downsides to his job as well.

“I’m scared too. I have a young daughter and I don’t want to take this home,” Veitch explained, saying he is doing his best to be careful.

Right now he feels it is safer for his nine-year-old to stay only with her mom, who was laid off due to the COVID-19 restrictions on businesses in the province.

Veitch said public support for local businesses and shops helps because they’re the ones working hard to keep people fed and happy.

“We’re hearing a lot of positive comments from people that are thanking us,” he said.

His main messages for everyone at this time are to shop local and stay safe.