Winn-Dixie changes course, will now require masks for grocery shoppers

Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of grocery chain Winn-Dixie, has reversed its decision to not require customers to wear masks inside of its stores.

Starting on July 27, shoppers will have to don face coverings before entering Winn-Dixie supermarkets and other stores operated by Southeastern, the company announced Monday.

The company only recently began requiring employees to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and had said that it would not issue a requirement for customers.

The stance drew national news coverage as other large retailers including Publix, Target and Walmart were beginning to announce mask mandates for customers.

Southeastern Grocers explained its previous decision to CBS News in an email, describing mask requirements as a “highly charged issue” with its shoppers.

“We do not want to put our associates in a position to navigate interpersonal conflict or prohibit customers from shopping in our stores,” the company reportedly said.

In a press release from the grocery chain on Monday, spokesman Joe Caldwell explained the reversal, citing the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Southeastern U.S.

“Our decisions have always been shaped by listening to our people and our communities,” the statement said.

The company also advocated for government to remove the burden of enforcing mask mandates from retailers.

“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,” the company’s statement concluded.

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Winn-Dixie changes course, will now require masks for grocery shoppers."