Source : Circle K, https://www.circlek.com/ceomessage
Dear customers,
When the outbreak of Covid-19 began, I never imagined that I would be writing to you about this deadly virus a year later. I am so proud of our frontline team members, who have been there day in and day out for our customers and have kept our stores open, safe and stocked. Today, as one of the biggest vaccine rollouts of our lifetimes is underway, please know that I believe in the promise of the Covid-19 vaccines as essential to the health of our team members and communities and to bringing an end to this painful pandemic.
Over the last 12 months, we have made the health and safety of our team members and customers our number one priority at Circle K. We have been strict about keeping our stores clean and asking everyone to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and maintain social distance. We are now working hard to make it as easy for our team members to get the Covid-19 vaccines. We will always follow local guidelines for distribution, and we will encourage getting the vaccine, but we will not mandate it.
We are also putting up new signage at our locations asking, “Who are you getting vaccinated for?” Like many of you, I do not want to lose another co-worker, family member or friend to the virus. It is heartbreaking. Again, getting the vaccine is not a requirement for anyone working or shopping in our stores, but we are committed to informing you and our workforce about its potential and promise.
By not letting our Covid guard down – getting the vaccine when available, wearing a mask, washing hands frequently and maintaining social distance – I hope, with all my heart, that we can play a small part in helping change the course of the pandemic. We are all looking for that light at the end of the tunnel, and in the meantime, we will do our best to make your lives a little easier every day.
Sincerely,
Brian Hannasch
President and Chief Executive Officer
updated as of 24-02-2021
During the difficult days of Covid-19, I am more proud to be the CEO of Circle K than ever before. Our company has come together to protect the health and safety of our customers and employees and to be part of the solution in the communities where we work and live. We have seen an outpouring of generosity for our first responders, families in need, and our own frontline heroes working in our stores and supporting our operations.
Early on, as the pandemic began to escalate, Circle K was one of the first businesses to offer free coffee, tea, and Polar Pop to first responders and health care workers. By late April, we have given out over 1 million free drinks across our global network! We know these first responders and health care workers are bravely bearing the worst part of Covid-19, and we are glad to help make their day a little easier in any way possible.
We have also launched a partnership with Feeding America to help our communities and families struggling in this difficult economy. Circle K has pledged to donate a minimum of 25 million meals to Feeding America: for every fuel transaction made at a Circle K in the U.S., one meal will be donated to a local community food bank affiliated with the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. By late April, we have already donated over 18 million meals and expect to quickly reach the 25 million goal. At that time, we plan to extend the offer to 40 million meals, which we hope will have a tremendous and broad impact on those in need. You can also donate here directly to Feeding America.
In Canada and Europe, we started a campaign called “Circle K’s Little Thank Yous.” As a follow up on our free drinks to first responders and healthcare workers, we want to recognize the essential work performed by other hard-working heroes in our communities. Our customers are able to directly thank these everyday heroes by sending them a coupon for a free Coffee, Polar Pop, Froster, or Favorites water, chips or nuts, via a digital platform. By late April 10,000 Thank Yous have already been given out!
We also have many smaller outreach programs across our neighborhoods including, in Ireland, an employee-volunteer home delivery program to the elderly and medically impaired and delivery of Circle K private-label snacks to hospitals in Sweden.
For our own employees suffering from the significant impact of the virus, we have started a COVID-19 Assistance Fund. This Fund has been seeded by the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alain Bouchard, and me foregoing our salary for a minimum of two months. In addition, each member of the Executive Leadership team is also giving 20% of their salary. Even as many of our own employees are taking care of their families and coping with the stress of the virus, they have asked to contribute to the Fund, and we have established a way for them to do so.
The generosity of our customers and employees has been truly outstanding. One silver lining of these troubled times is it has brought out the best in all of us. We are all in this together, and I have no doubt that Circle K and the customers and communities it serves will come out of the pandemic better and stronger. I am so proud to be leading this company, and, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support!
updated as of 04-24-2020
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, I want to update you on the important steps we are taking at Circle K to protect our customers and employees. More than ever, we are committed to being part of the solution for the communities where we work and live. Our key priority remains the health and safety of our employees and customers.
In many areas where we operate, our stores are now designated as part of the critical emergency infrastructure, and we are staying open and true to our mission of making our customer’s lives a little easier every day – even difficult days.
Our store employees are on the front-line of this crisis, and we have put together additional financial and healthcare measures to support them. We have also done much work to increase even further the safety at our locations including:
- Stringent cleaning measures several times daily anywhere hands may go from surfaces, screens, pumps, restrooms and more.
- Increasing safety, hygiene, and packaging around food and beverages
- Installing clear barriers at cash registers to protect customers and employees from coughs, sneezes or other possible exposure
- Marking stores for social distancing at the checkout line
We are also providing answers to frequently asked questions about our how our stores are operating during these unprecedented times and what our customers can expect in terms of store closing and sanitizing procedures if an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19. You can find those on our websites and in social media. We will continue to create impactful solutions that help our customers safely get the products they need.
Finally, we are doing our part to say thank you to those working day and night to combat the virus. Along with offering free coffee, tea, and polar pop to our frontline store employees, we are also giving it free to first responders and health care workers*.
You can rely on Circle K to help get through this together!
*Offer may vary in different markets
updated as of 03-26-2020
At Circle K, our mission is to make our customers lives a little easier every day. We know you are relying on us more than ever for a clean and friendly experience when you visit our stores.
I want you to know that your health and safety is our key priority. We are carefully watching the World Health Organization and local and global health authorities for the most up to date information. They know best what is going on with the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19, and we have dedicated teams following their advice.
Our employees are committed to keeping our stores clean inside and out. That includes anywhere your hands may go from surfaces, screens, pumps, restrooms and more. This is always a priority for us, but now we have asked all our store teams to go the extra mile as we know with this virus, cleanliness is key to health and safety.
Our goal is to make it easy for you to find sanitizing solutions – from gel to wipes to plastic gloves depending on the location - to help protect you and your family while visiting our stores and filling up at our pumps. We also know you are coming to us to buy hygiene and other emergency supplies, and our teams are hard at work to increase our stock to meet your needs.
We are also giving lots of information to our employees on how to keep healthy. You have heard it before, and we are saying it again and again, from proper handwashing, social distancing, keeping hands away from faces, and making sure to have proper procedures around food.
We understand that we live in uncertain times. You can rely on Circle K to make your life a little easier every day – even difficult days.
updated as of 03-12-2020
