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The Giant Company uses social media to discourage hoarding

Video with President Nicholas Bertram urges customers not to overbuy

Russell Redman

March 27, 2020

3 Min Read
Giant Carlisle-store associate-coronavirus
Titled #MoreForAll, Giant's social media effort calls on shoppers to take only what they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.The Giant Company

With coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and consumer concern mounting nationwide, The Giant Company (formerly Giant Food Stores) is asking shoppers not to hoard groceries in a new social media campaign dubbed #MoreForAll.

Launched yesterday, the campaign includes a video featuring Giant President Nicholas Bertram that appears on the Carlisle, Pa.-based grocer’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.

“We care about getting nutritious food on everyone’s table everyday, especially during the COVID-19 crisis,” Bertram said in the video as he stocked a shelf in a Giant supermarket. “You can actually help by taking only what you need and leaving the rest for others.”

Nick Bertram-Giant Carlisle-coronavirus video.pngIn the video, Giant's Nicholas Bertram says consumers can help stores stay stocked by not purchasing too much. (Photo courtesy of The Giant Company)

Also appearing in the video, titled “How Every Neighbor Can Help,” are Gale Ferranto, president of Buona Foods, and Joe Arthur, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Both said their organizations are working hard during the coronavirus crisis to support the communities they serve by making food readily available. But they noted that the public also must pitch in.

“This is about more than groceries. It’s about taking care of one another and being careful not to overbuy,” Bertram said.

Related:Giant Food Stores becomes The Giant Company

The video ends with Ferranto saying, “Take some for you,” and then followed by all three saying, “and leave more for all.”

Part of Ahold Delhaize USA, Giant operates nearly 190 grocery stores, 132 pharmacies, 105 fuel stations and over 125 online grocery pickup/delivery hubs in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia under the Giant, Martin’s, Giant Heirloom Market and Giant/Martin’s Direct banners.

In recent weeks, Giant has been steadily announcing measures to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus. The retailer on March 14 instituted midnight closings at all 19 of its 24-hour stores in Pennsyvania and Maryland, though pharmacies in those locations maintained 24-hour operation.

Then on March 17, the chain unveiled a broader action plan that changed store hours to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (effective March 19) so employees could have more time to clean and stock up stores. A reserved shopping time for customers age 60 and older, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. daily, also went into effect. Giant, too, placed a two-item limit on high-demand product categories throughout the store, including paper goods and disinfecting products.

In addition, to promote social distancing, Giant implemented contactless delivery for all online grocery orders through Giant/Martin’s Direct. The company also noted that it’s working to expand e-commerce capacity, as available slots were limited.

Related:Giant Food Stores has bigger plans for Pennsylvania

Rising in-store and online demand, in turn, led Giant to expand hiring of temporary and part-time employees companywide, with positions as service associates, cashiers, stock clerks, drivers and fulfillment center selectors available immediately. The company also is welcoming workers in other business sectors whose employment has been disrupted by the pandemic.

And starting on March 25, Giant modified operations at all Giant and Martin’s in-store pharmacies, including a 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. time slot daily reserved for customers ages 60 and older. Seniors also can now can park in Giant/Martin’s Direct parking spaces at their local store to pick up prescriptions, which are brought out to their vehicle. For seniors who don’t want to enter the store, Giant is offering UPS mailing of prescriptions with free shipping, until further notice. The scripts must be paid for in advance, by calling a Giant or Martin’s pharmacy, and they will arrive in two business days, the company said.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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