In line with the UAE leadership's directives to ensure food security, Union Cooperative stated that it continues to meet the essential needs of the community by maintaining an uninterrupted supply of food and non-food items, which is seen as a national duty amid the current conditions, reiterating its commitment to providing services that exceed customer expectations and carry out its responsibilities regardless of the situation.

Majid Hamad Rahma Al Shamsi, Chairman of Union Coop, said the organisation is fully committed to fulfilling its responsibility to ensure the continuous supply of food items under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Union Coop was among the first entities to implement the precautionary measures issued by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Municipality and other entities involved in the fight against Covid-19. Despite the challenges in the current period, the Union Coop has expanded its home delivery service following the start of the round-the-clock sterilization operations, Al Shamsi said.

Khalid Humaid bin Dhiban Al Falasi, CEO of the Union Cooperative, said: "We want to reassure the public that all food supplies, including fresh, canned, chilled and frozen items, continue to be available through our relationship with 50 suppliers worldwide."

Union Coop has one of the largest warehouses in the world, which stores not only food items and groceries but also household goods. Union Coop ensures undisrupted supply of fresh products through contractual agreements worth Dh25 million that enable it to have adequate stock levels at its own and its suppliers' warehouses.

The organization operates 17 branches located across Dubai, which operate from 7.00 am to 12.00 midnight daily. The first hour of the day, from 7.00 am to 8.00 am, is dedicated to serving elderly citizens and residents. The Cooperative has signed sales contracts for Ramadan goods worth Dh450 million to ensure that supply is abundant and customer needs are met.

The Union Coop has adopted comprehensive precautionary measures at all its branches including enforcement of social distancing. It has installed acrylic glass walls at its sales counters and displayed signs to ensure a safe distance between shoppers and cashiers, according to Dr Suhail Al Bastaki, Director of the Happiness and Marketing Department at Union Coop. Shoppers at Union Coop are required to wear face masks and gloves as per the directives of the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai.

Al Bastaki further said intensive disinfection procedures are conducted throughout the day including thorough sterilization of shopping carts. Each shopping cart is covered with a single-use recyclable plastic cover that is disposed once a shopper finishes using the cart. All areas of the Union Coop store are sterilized thoroughly following the end of shopping hours. Staff buses also undergo daily sterilization and all staff undergo temperature checks on their way to work and when they return to their accommodation.

Al Bastaki also said the Union Coop currently does not allow children inside its stores. Only one person per family is allowed inside the store. In exceptional cases, two family members are allowed. Face masks and gloves are distributed to shoppers to ensure everyone's safety. The number of delivery orders serviced by Union Coop have increased to 800 a day, an increase of 640 per cent from the usual daily rates, he noted.

The Union Coop has partnered with Dubai Taxi, delivery service providers and volunteers to ensure speedy deliveries to the elderly and people of determination. Al Bastaki requested the public to appreciate the fact that there is considerable pressure on its delivery services. However, despite the challenges, the Union Coop will not spare any efforts to exceed customer expectations, he stressed. 

The supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Dubai Economy ensures that customers are protected from unregulated price increases. The Union Coop continues to serve the community without being driven by commercial objectives, he emphasized.

WAM