Big Freeze Causes No Major Disruption for Jempson’s
Despite the dramatic big freeze and sustained bad weather that has disrupted life across the country, the Jempson’s Peasmarsh Superstore, Jempson’s/Budgens Supermarkets and Jempson’s Cafes all managed to remain open throughout and operate near enough as usual.
Stephen Jempson said ‘The staff that were able to make it into work have made Herculean efforts to keep the stores running, and we would like to not only thank them – we have had staff walk in for miles to open up – but also our customers for bearing with us and for their understanding during this current cold snap, staff had commented that there was a pleasant and amiable atmosphere instore’. He continued ‘Our bakery team in the Peasmarsh Bakery worked around the clock to ensure supply of an unprecedented demand for bread, and our close relationship with local dairies meant that we where able to supplement our normal supply, people were in good spirits and considering massive demand, we believe very few customers went without basic stocks’.
Andrew Jempson added ‘Good planning, supply and fully stocked shelves meant that our customers where able to purchase the mainstay staples of bread, milk and soup as well as other essential winter warmers, but one of the most noticeable supply issues we had was salt even though we had substantial amounts delivered daily’.
Jempson’s Shopper Bus service also continued to run to schedule and almost to its full routes. Stephen Jempson said ‘We had to postpone our Wednesday morning service, but that was simply because our own bus was in for regular servicing and the hire replacement was unable to get out of the bus yard. The new Fairlight route reverted for the day to the original service due to untreated residential roads, and Saturday was obviously an exception, but the bus still went out, we are very proud of the resilience of our bus drivers’.
Jempson’s saw sales exceed Christmas takings in three of the group’s supermarkets, such was the demand for product sold.
Andrew Jempson concluded ‘We are receiving special deliveries overnight, the Peasmarsh Superstore car park has been snowploughed, and the whole group is open as usual, we will endeavour to continue to be of service to all regardless of the weather, and we look forward to welcoming
Rye’s Own February 2010
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