We have never seen supermarket and food professionals more generally as everyday heroes.
The coronavirus crisis makes us aware of their vital importance, just like that of transporters, postmen, pharmacists, bakers, cashiers.
Without forgetting – but this is obvious – the healthcare staff, the teachers, the police. And all those who continue to make the world work when nothing is going right anymore. Thanks to them !
Director of a Franprix store, rue Barbette, Jeremy is one of those involved in confinement, an essential cog in our daily lives. The Swamp Mood questioned him.
How is your confinement going?
I'm not really concerned since our food business is of general interest. So I work six days a week, without fixed hours, depending on the needs of the store.
Like many people in our business, I work from 6:45 a.m. and happily exceed twelve hours a day.
Sometimes depending on arrivals, current needs and unforeseen absences of the team, I cover the duties of other employees. From morning to evening, I take care of stock, orders and shelves.
How is the store supplied?
The delivery of items is quite smooth for the fresh section. But, elsewhere, certain products are completely out of stock: sandwich bread, eggs, pasta, sugar, flour. For meat, on the other hand, everything is fine. As for products arriving from abroad, it’s more complicated…
What is your state of mind at the moment?
I regret these complications because I like my customers to be satisfied. I am sad for some colleagues who are out of stock.
On a more personal level, my wife is pregnant, so I'm a little worried. We make sure she doesn't need to go out. I check in on her every hour.
I considered driving it to my family up North. But, in case we are carrying the virus without knowing it, I would be remiss if I brought it to this small village of two thousand inhabitants.
Let's get back to your work. How is the relationship with your customers going?
They thank us for being there but I am afraid that after the confinement period, this relational quality will be broken.
Let's be frank: even if some consumers are very friendly towards us, in general we are not used to being treated well by customers in the distribution sector. Containment will perhaps change that.
Text: Katia Barillot
Photo: Anna Shvets
06.04.20
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