Goodfood gives workers “Essential Canadian” pay raise

• Online grocery company Goodfood Market (TSX:FOOD) has rewarded all employees with a pay raise, in response to COVID-19
• The Essential Canadian Pay Program will increase both hourly and salaried wages by at least C$2 per hour for the duration of the pandemic
• Goodfood has qualified as an essential service and has raised staff pay to reflect their vital role during the crisis
• The company is also hiring over 500 new employees in order to keep up with increased demand
• Goodfood (FOOD) was up 9.18 per cent yesterday, and is now trading at $3.33 per share

Online grocery company, Goodfood Market (TSX:FOOD), has introduced the Essential Canadian Pay Program, raising the pay of all its employees. 

The Program will raise Goodfood wages by at least C$2 an hour, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This will apply to all hourly and salaried staff, in both operations and production divisions. 

As a food provider, the company has qualified as an essential service. As a result, the business will remain open during the crisis, while many other companies close down.

The COVID-19 crisis has caused widespread panic-buying and hoarding in supermarkets and grocery stores. Amid the chaos, it has quickly become apparent just how essential the workers at these businesses are to society. 

Goodfood’s President and CEO, Neil Cuggy, said that the company was proud of its hard-working employees across the country.  

“Our employees are instrumental to Goodfood’s operations, and to helping Canadians receive groceries and meal solutions, delivered safely to their homes during these trying times. 

“It was therefore paramount for us to reward our employees with our “Hero Pay Program” during this period. It recognises their continued and incredible efforts in keeping our operations running as efficiently as possible,” Neil explained. 

Despite their vital role, which this crisis has highlighted, these employees are generally considered “unskilled workers”. As of March 11 this year, the average wage for a grocery clerk in Canada is around C$13.44 an hour.

Goodfood is now hiring over 500 new employees, in order to keep up with the increasing demand caused by COVID-19.

Goodfood (FOOD) was up 9.18 per cent yesterday, and is now trading at $3.33 per share as of 9:39am EST.