Fresh Market set to require customers to wear masks

First grocery chain in Hampton Roads to take such measures

Fresh Market appears to be the first commercial grocery chain in Hampton Roads to ask customers to wear a face covering. The grocer sent emails to frequent shoppers Saturday announcing the request that will take effect Tuesday, April 14 at all of its 159 store locations.

The company said it would do its best to accommodate guests who do not have face masks.

The grocer has five locations across the region in Norfolk, Newport News, Williamsburg and two in Virginia Beach.

Many stores, including Fresh Market, had begun supplying its workers with face masks and gloves, but none of the chains in the area had required customers to wear them. Last Friday, the military’s Defense Commissary Agency began requiring customers and employees to wear face coverings before entering a commissary. In addition, an independent grocer operating under the Farm Fresh name in Portsmouth has had a sign at the entrance requiring customers to wear a mask and disposable gloves, supplied by the store if needed, while shopping.

Fresh Market has ordered FDA-approved face masks for its employees but until those arrive, have required them to wear cloth masks.

“Following CDC guidance, we felt it was important and in the best interest of the community’s safety to ask our guests to do the same by wearing their own face coverings,” Fresh Market spokeswoman Nicole Chabot said in an email Sunday.

The CDC has recommended people wear cloth face coverings in public, not to protect themselves from infection but in case they have the virus and may not have any symptoms in order to avert further spread of the COVID-19 disease.