COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Update

13 March 2020

Dear Valued Business Partner,

As part of Coles’ corporate risk management program, we have extensive response plans and protocols in place to mitigate and manage disruption to our operations and supply chain. In relation to COVID-19 specifically, we have instigated specific planning to proactively plan for and respond to scenarios and events which could impact our business operations and the health and wellbeing of our customers, team members, visitors and business partners.

Whilst Coles is confident that the measures we have in place are adequately addressing known risks, we continue to take direction and advice from the Australian Government including the Department of Health on this matter. We are also committed to working with our third parties to monitor the evolving situation and appropriately manage our response.

Our highest priority is the health and safety of our customers, team members, visitors and business partners. Accordingly, we are introducing some new measures within our Support Offices, Distribution Centres and Stores. These are based on advice from the Australian Government about minimising the spread of COVID-19.

As of Monday, 16 March 2020, we will be closing visitation for meetings to all third-party visitors at our Store Support Offices and Distribution Centres until further notice. As advised previously, in the event you are attending a Coles site for another purpose, we ask that you advise your Coles contact prior to arrival if:

  • You have travelled overseas at any time in the last 14 days to a country that is listed as higher riskOpens in new window due to COVID-19. This is regardless of whether you have any symptoms.
  • You have come into close contact with a proven or suspected case of COVID-19. This is regardless of whether you have any symptoms.
  • You are otherwise unwell with COVID-19 or ‘flu like’ symptoms (fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath).

We will work with you to either reschedule your visit to a later date or make alternative arrangements such as teleconference or videoconferencing.

Continuing to do business

As an important business partner to Coles, we ask that you review and make sure your business continuity plans are up to date. You may be asked to share these with us depending on your working relationship with Coles so that we can work together to minimise disruption to operations or supply of product to the communities we serve.

If you have any queries in relation to specific operational concerns or issues, please reach out to your Coles contact.