At Southeastern Grocers, we put people at the center of each and every decision we make for our stores. Our decisions have always been shaped by listening to our people and our communities.

As we have navigated through the complexities and challenges of the pandemic, we have progressively shaped our operations and are continuing to update our policies to best protect all those who depend upon us. This unprecedented period requires a willingness to be adaptable and flexible to ever-changing circumstances, and we will continue to adjust as needed over time.

The majority of our stores are under either a local or state government mandate, and given the continued rise of positive COVID cases in our communities across the Southeast, beginning Monday, July 27, we will be requiring masks to be worn by customers to help reduce the spread of the disease. Our communities count on us, and we are counting on our customers to show kindness as we go through these challenging times together.

We believe that the enforcement should be placed upon our state and federally elected officials, and we will continue to work with our peers in the retail industry to advocate for this sensible mandate to be passed into law to remove the burden from employers and their heroic frontline associates.

Joe Caldwell
Director, Corporate Communications and Government Affairs

UPDATED LIST OF MAJOR CHAINS REQUIRING FACE MASKS WHILE SHOPPING

Costco
– In effect: May 4
– Exception for people under 2 and with a health condition

Starbucks
– In effect: July 14
– No mask? Curbside pickup, delivery, drive-thru available

Best Buy
– In effect: July 15
– Face coverings will be provided for customers who don’t have one, and small children and customers unable to wear a mask for health reasons can shop without one.
– Curbside pickup is available

Walmart and Sam’s Club

– In effect: July 20
– Signs and staff at front doors reminding people to put on face covering
– Trained health ambassadors will be stationed in stores to remind people of the rule
– Sam’ s Club will provide complimentary masks if the member doesn’t have one

CVS
– In effect: July 20
– Employees will not enforce but will ask customers to follow rule

Lowe’s
– In effect: July 20
– Free masks will be available at the customer service desk of every store for customers who need them

Publix
– In effect: July 21
– Signs at front and in-store announcements to remind shoppers of the rule
– Does not apply to children and people with health conditions, who are encouraged to use curbside pickup/delivery

Winn-Dixie
– In effect: July 27

Kohl’s
– In effect: July 21

– No mask? Drive-up service or kohls.com
– Does not apply to people with a health condition

Home Depot
– In effect: July 22
– Small children or those who have a valid medical condition will not be required to wear a mask.

Target
– In effect: Aug. 1
– Does not apply to those with underlying medical conditions and young children
– Stores will provide disposable masks
– There will be signage and audio reminders within the stores

BJ’s Wholesale
-Effective Monday, July 20, 2020, anyone entering a BJ’s location will be required to wear a facial covering that covers both the mouth and nose at all times while shopping

Walgreens
-Effective July 20, customers to wear face covers while in stores across all Walgreens locations chainwide.” The policy took effect July 20

Editors note - Thank you Hendry County Emergency Management for this updated list.