Emart Attaches 'Antibacterial Film' to Shopping Cart Handles

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Emart is launching an initiative to create 'Customer Safe Stores' to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

On the 11th, Emart announced that it will be the first large-scale supermarket in Korea to attach 'antibacterial film' to shopping cart handles and expand the installation of 'Customer Safe Guards' at checkout counters.

This measure by Emart is aimed at creating a store environment that safely protects customers and employees under the principle of 'customer-centered management,' preparing for the post-COVID-19 era.

First, starting with the Seongsu branch, Emart and Emart Traders will attach antibacterial film to the handles of approximately 100,000 shopping carts across 158 stores.

The newly introduced 'antibacterial film' functions to eliminate viruses and bacteria, preventing cross-infection, and is expected to allow customers to use shopping carts with greater peace of mind.

Additionally, Emart expanded the 'Customer Safe Guard,' which was piloted last month in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, to 155 Emart and Emart Traders stores on the 5th.

The 'Customer Safe Guard' is an acrylic panel measuring 80 cm wide and 85 cm tall, installed at checkout counters?the main face-to-face interaction points between customers and employees?to minimize droplet infection.

Emart explained that through the pilot operation of the 'Customer Safe Guard' in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, many positive responses were received, with customers feeling comfortable shopping and employees able to safely communicate with customers, leading to this significant expansion.

Major U.S. retailers such as Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons also announced plans in March to install 'sneeze guards' at all their stores. A sneeze guard refers to a glass or plastic barrier that protects specific individuals from coughs and sneezes.

Furthermore, Emart plans to attach antibacterial film to the touch screen monitors of self-checkout counters in about 70 stores during May to establish a safe payment environment.

The reason Emart is proactively introducing antibacterial film on shopping carts and installing 'Customer Safe Guards' is that, due to the impact of COVID-19, customers have come to prioritize hygiene and safety during shopping, making hygienic shopping culture the 'new normal.'

Meanwhile, since the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, Emart has continuously worked to create a safe shopping space by disinfecting carts, providing hand sanitizers inside stores, and attaching antibacterial film to elevator buttons within stores.

Lee Haeju, Head of Sales at Emart, said, “Under the principle that protecting customers and employees is the top priority, we have introduced various measures for daily quarantine to create a safe and hygienic shopping space. Going forward, we will prioritize expenditures from the perspective that resources for customer safety are investments for customers, not costs.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.