Online Supermarket deliveries to stop if things get worse?

[Nolite77]

I was reading this document on the government website about retailers during a pandemic and it says once we reach alert level 2 & 3 of a pandemic

"Internet operations are likely to be suspended soon after a likely pandemic is confirmed and staff re-directed to keeping stores open"

I think a lot of people were planning to use food delivery services to minimise contact if things get worse and if they became ill themselves but from what I've read that might not be possible? I always use online food shopping but we all might need to make other plans!

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85916/flu_food_planning_assumptions.pdf

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85916/flu_food_planning_assumptions.pdf

Sorry can't seem to post the full address, all to the start for the document.

So that means everyone to Ocado then, as they have no stores to keep open.

If I am ill or in isolation/quarantine, the last thing I'd want to do is go out to a shop.

How can deliveries operate if many of the store/warehouse pickers and delivery drivers are off work sick?

Honestly, I the way some are thinking seems to be "I will isolate, but all other services/infrastructure will sort me out with anything I need"

Do you have a date for that document?

Suspending online might have made sense a few years ago, but it's now such a large slice of the market - and good for infection control to have fewer people going out - that it really seems nonsensical now.

@AuntieStella Oh, ocado have fully automatic warehouses and self driving vans do they? Get real - they don't.

What a pain?
But why? They could leave it outside your doorstep?

"Is Ocado not Waitrose?"

No, Waitrose is Waitrose.

The Ocado/Waitrose link ends in September, when they will instead carry M&S products

It depends on whether the people who pick the items and deliver them are able to work or not. It's not really a case of plucking a random person off of checkouts to drive, although I'm guessing they would try that and only suspend as an absolute resort. These are worst case but semi realistic scenarios, it's not unfeasible that services of all sorts will be suspended due to staffing. I think people forget it's humans who keep a lot of cogs ticking, because we are so used to having them there im guessing.

AuntieStella Oh, ocado have fully automatic warehouses and self driving vans do they? Get real - they don't

My apologies for writing so badly. Of course I did not think either of those things.

What I meant was that as they have no shops they will not be closing internet operations to redeploy those able to work into stores. So those who want/need online shopping will have to go to them, because they will be the only ones not covered by the 'prioritise your shops' directive

I have elderly parents who are pretty much house bound - several hours travel from me - I do them a weekly internet shop for delivery - I’ve no idea how I’m meant to keep them fed if this happens :-(

In some areas of China where there are cities in isolation they've been using online deliveries throughout.

TBH its probably better heath wise for it to go more online than sure based - no gatherings of people in shops. Just the odd delivery and pickers in stores, spaced out, deliveries in vans and shopping left on doorsteps = reduce contact between people.

Springbubble what are there neighbours like? We have an elderly gent next to us, I always ask him when it's snowing etc if he wants anything and he always says no, but now we have lived here longer I know his daughter quite well and if she can't help him get stuff in I asked her to let me know, and if he was okay with it id sort it out (she lives a few hours away so can't visit all the time). We have done this a few times and he is okay asking now which is great and she said it's a relief to her too. Can you speak to any of them? I would imagine though that at least one supermarket will keep online going, or there will be a company of some sort doing something because of the £££! Amazon pantry do a lot now, aside from meat I think and fresh stuff like milk and bread.

Springbubble in that case I'd get them some extra bits now if I were you. The world has indeed gone mad

@AuntieStella Well they would suspend if loads of their drivers/pickers/warehouse maintenance people/IT department were off sick?

And of course they are relying on drivers to move food from manufactures to their distribution centre.

IF huge numbers of the working population if off work at one time then every business/service (private and public sector) will slow down very, very quickly.

I'm sorry I don't have a date for this document but its on the website now and seems current.

I don't think its about the risk of infection from delivering, I think the reason is says the deliveries would stop is so they can make keeping shops open a priority with people off due to sickness or childcare reasons etc. I assume staff would be moved from the online shopping section to the shop floor. I am not sure how it would affect ocado, we don't have that here.

I am not sure about elderly, housebound people? I think if it comes to it we will all need to be better neighbours to each other and help out?

I’ve been wondering about this too as also have elderly housebound parents.

I'm housebound and disabled I sincerely hope you're wrong! I'm screwed if this happens!

Everyday life, perhaps speak to their neighbours now and see if you can get their number of email address so you can arrange for them to pick up food for them if it comes to it? Hopefully it won't but it might be an idea to start planning now just in case?

Graphista, I hope this doesn't happen also but it is on the gov website. As above perhaps try and sort out an emergency back up plan just in case, I'd do this for my neighbours if needed.

Surely any business would be at risk of having to close if too many staff needed to be off at the same time.

Could be any supermarket, not just Ocado

And I agree that if you need online, ocado would become Hobson’s choice if the linked measures were activated

(I’m immune compromised and would be trying to keep away from people as much as possible, and would really not want to see online delivery options be closed en masse)

I have elderly parents who are pretty much house bound - several hours travel from me - I do them a weekly internet shop for delivery - I’ve no idea how I’m meant to keep them fed if this happens

Could you look into the meals delivery Service like this one?

www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com

@AuntieStella Well they would suspend if loads of their drivers/pickers/warehouse maintenance people/IT department were off sick?

Of course, but as that was not the scenario in the link, nor part of the point I was making, I did not address it.

Any business, including those who would (if this document is still in date) be directed to close their online operations, could find that the extent of staff shortages mean they have to close or sharply reduce for a while

Aside from Ocado and Wiltshire Farm Foods (thanks - I'd heard of them, but never used) are there any others which are online only and fall outside the scope of this document?