While the focus has always been on providing fresh products at a fair price with great customer service, now the owners of Burreson's Foods, Gempeler's Supermarket, and Roy's Market are ordering extra products to meet customer demands, cleaning and sanitizing shopping carts and baskets after each use and other frequently touched surfaces, and making sure staff are following guidelines and keeping them informed and up-to-date on employee-related issues.

"Currently, we have about 25 full- and part-time staff," said Connie Von Der Heide, Co-Owner of Gempeler's Supermarket in Monticello. "We listen to their concerns and suggestions, and we take whatever actions we can to help them feel comfortable and safe at work. And of course, we regularly thank them for being here. We could not operate without them."

Darin Burreson, owner of Burreson's Foods in Belleville and Roy's Market in New Glarus, employs about 50 employees between the two stores.

"We've changed store hours to adjust for additional cleaning and sanitizing," said Burreson. "Staff have been very accommodating in working extra hours and different shifts, and we've added staff."

As far as keeping products on the shelf, Burreson said they are not having any problems supplying produce, meat, or dairy, but with some products it is difficult to get supply.

Von Der Heide added, "For some products, for example, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, disinfectant spray and wipes, the supply chain has been drastically challenged, and so it will simply take some time for those products to be readily available again."

Gempeler's Supermarket offers an extensive deli selection.

"Our all-time most popular items are our made-to-order Alpine Boy pizzas that are available ready-to-eat or take-and-bake, followed by our broasted chicken available by the piece or as a dinner with sides, and our very popular Friday fish fry," said Von Der Heide. "We also offer many selections including made-to-order sub sandwiches, burgers, breakfast pizza and egg sandwiches, homemade casseroles, soft serve ice cream treats, and more."

Burreson said that the deli at Burreson's Foods has transitioned to self-serve sandwiches, salads, and pre-packaged meats and cheese and that the deli at Roy's Market offers self-serve items.

"It's temporary," explained Burreson. "It makes things easier on employees and keeps customers from crowding in the front and allows us to keep proper distance and move customers through more efficiently."

Von Der Heide added that on May 20, they are featuring a steak fry, featuring flame-broiled ribeye, baked potato, tossed salad and dinner roll. To place your order for carry out, please call (608) 938-DELI.

All three grocery stores offer delivery and curbside pick-up.

"We offer free delivery to customers who live within and just outside the village limits, and we do offer curbside pickup," said Von Der Heide. "A customer may phone in his or her order to (608) 938-4927 and ask for Connie. We shop the orders and then either deliver or call the customer when his or her order is ready for pickup."

"The volunteers in New Glarus are doing an amazing job with the Caring for Kids campaign," said Burreson. "If customers are interested in delivery or curbside pick-up, please call (608) 424-1986 (Burreson's Foods) or (608) 527-2914 (Roy's Market).

The owners and managers of the three grocery stores feel fortunate to be a part of these communities.

"Even in normal times our customers are wonderful, but right now we're hearing so many 'thank yous' and words of appreciation for being here, so they can come here and feel comfortable and reasonably safe while doing their grocery shopping," said Von Der Heide. "Someone even hung up a hand-written and decorated poster near the store entrance, thanking the, 'Super people at Gempeler's.' Whoever you are, thank you so much. People have been very understanding about some products simply being out of stock right now. Rest assured we are ordering whatever we can that's available from our suppliers."

"Our staff and customers are great," said Burreson. "It's great to hear words of appreciation as we work through this. There are many community grassroots efforts that are developing from this situation, for example, the Caring For Kids program in New Glarus, and school districts, churches, and other organizations working and volunteering to care for others in their communities. Together we'll get through this."

Burreson started in the grocery business in 1996, when he and his brother bought the grocery store in Blanchardville. In 2009, he started Burreson's Foods in Belleville and when Jon and Judy Ziltner were interested in selling Roy's Market in New Glarus, Darin saw it "as a great opportunity" and decided to purchase and has owned Roy's Market for almost four years.

Burreson's Foods in Belleville has been owned by Darin Burreson since 2009.

Von Der Heide and her family have owned Gempeler's Supermarket since 1972, when Ernie and Sharron Gempeler purchased the store from John Streiff. Connie's brother Ken has worked with his parents learning the business and cutting meat and making award winning sausages. For many years, Connie worked in libraries around the U.S. until 2013, when her parents transitioned to an LLC and she decided to come back to Monticello.

Thank you, Darin, Connie, Ken, Ernie, Sharron and your staff for helping our communities social distance safely while providing food and supplies for our families.