COVID HEROES

COVID-19: JAMES HALL & CO

JAMES HALL RECOGNISES ITS COVID HEROES

NORTH OF ENGLAND SPAR WHOLESALER JAMESHALL HAS RECOGNISED JUST A FEW OF ITS MANYCOVID HEROES WHO HAVE PLAYED SUCH A VITALROLE IN SERVING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THEREGION.

Preston-based fifth generation family wholesaler James Hall & Co has publicly recognised just a few of its many Covid Heroes who have helped keep essential supply chains open over the last year. The north of England Spar wholesaler employs around 3,500 staff who have helped keep 600 independent and company owned stores stocked and supported across the region.

The mini-campaign recognises heroes from across the business and includes independent Spar retailers. Peter Dodding, Sales and Marketing Director said: “We have faced many challenges during the past year but the spirit and determination demonstrated by our staff has been absolutely tremendous. Without them, stock simply wouldn’t reach the shelves and we are extremely grateful for how well they have coped with the significant pressures of an unprecedented year.

“The safety of our staff and Spar customers has been the ultimate priority throughout, and staff have adapted well to weekly lateral flow tests, temperature checks, Perspex screens and protection rotas to limit the number of staff onsite. I’d like to thank all staff, independent retailers and store customers for their continued support and patience.”

Here are just a few of those whose outstanding efforts have been highlighted.

BHAVESH PAREKH, INDEPENDENT SPAR RETAILER

“Having been in retail for 35 years, I can honestly say this has been the most difficult and challenging year, in terms of keeping up with customer demand, implementing the required safety measures in-store and looking after my staff’s mental and physical wellbeing.

“My team have risen to each challenge and gone above and beyond to serve their community with many families risking their lives to keep essential services open. I cannot praise their dedication enough and the majority of customers have been very positive and supportive, even when we had to bring in product limitations and restrict the number of customers in-store.

“We have been very humbled during the past year and fortunate to have been able to continue trading. James Hall has been incredibly supportive, reacting quickly and allowing us to meet increased customer demand by putting on extra shifts, deliveries and more trucks on the road. I must say a huge thank you to their entire team.”

ROBERT EGGO, AREA MANAGER FOR 17 COMPANY-OWNED STORES

“There was a lot of pressure when the first lockdown began because we had such little time to react. Overnight, we had to implement safety measures in all stores, follow government advice, ensure that staff had the right PPE, and really pull together as a team.

“The initial panic buying was something we had never experienced before and product limitations had to be brought in to ensure customers could access their fair share of goods. In spite of so many changes and their own personal anxieties regarding Covid-19, I cannot praise my staff enough. They have supported each other throughout this pandemic and played their part with great pride and determination, covering for staff who have had to self-isolate, working overtime to deliver products to the vulnerable, and generally going above and beyond to keep our stores open.

“I know that my teams feel great pride to have played their part and to have supported so many local people.”

MICK MORGAN, FORK LIFT TRUCK OPERATOR

“In 42 years at James Hall, I’ve never experienced a year like the last.

“Right from the start, all of the team understood the importance of their role in the supply chain and that it was essential to keep going and ensure stock reached our stores. That definitely gave us the drive to keep going through the toughest times.”

OLLIE FULLER, WAREHOUSE OPERATIVE, FRESH FOODS

“Everyone in the department is proud to have been involved and to have done their bit.

“Circumstances meant that I had to shield at the very beginning for a couple of weeks but I was soon able to work out a plan with my management team and return to work safely. It has been a worrying time but I am so grateful to have had a job and hopefully now there is an end in sight.”

STEVE METCALF, HGV DRIVER

“2020 was about as real as life gets. It reminded me of how completely powerless we can be against a virus and we just had to focus on keeping things going. We have all felt lucky to have been able to help local people and to have had a role that is essential, when so many jobs and businesses have not survived the pandemic.”