Domino’s Pizza staff have been pictured at city centre branches preparing food, raising fears about the safety of takeaways.
Kitchen staff and delivery drivers at the stores in Southampton, Hampshire, were seen working in close proximity to one another, without any face masks or gloves.
The fast food giant has remained open in the face of the pandemic, despite outlets including McDonald’s and KFC closing all stores.
This follows the death of Domino’s worker Mofizul Islam, 49, who worked at the takeaway restaurant in Eskbank, Midlothian.
Mr Islam had stopped working after the government announced the lockdown and died last week.
Domino’s said it has ‘increased’ its sanitisation of food preparation areas, door handles and hot bags.
The chain said the Government had, ‘asked Domino’s stores to remain open and provide local communities freshly made pizza to help boost morale and keep people safe at home.’
The fast food giant has remained open in the face of the pandemic, despite outlets including McDonald’s and KFC shutting
Domino’s said it has ‘increased’ its sanitisation of food preparation areas, door handles and hot bags
Staff are working in close proximity to one another at the stores in Southampton
Domino’s said it was following the advice from the World Health Organisation, Public Health England and the government, which recommends medical masks should be used by healthcare workers and people with symptoms of covid-19.
A spokesman for Domino’s told MailOnline: ‘Government has asked Domino’s stores to remain open and provide local communities freshly made pizza to help boost morale and keep people safe at home.
‘The safety of colleagues and customers is Domino’s top priority so we’re working closely with Government and our environmental health authority, who has approved our colleague and customer safety plans.
‘We’ve made major changes such as Contact Free Delivery, stopping our collection service, ending cash handling, simplifying the menu, sanitization and improving our already frequent hand washing.
‘We’ve put in place floor markers to encourage colleagues to follow government advice for food production which says: ’employers must take reasonable action to implement the two-meter rule’.’
Domino’s said it asked staff to frequently wash their hands, rather than wear latex gloves, ‘which can spread germs if not used properly and changed frequently.’
Domino’s said it was following the advice from the World Health Organisation, Public Health England and the government, which recommends medical masks should be used by healthcare workers and people with symptoms of covid-19
Restaurants and pubs were ordered to close during the coronavirus lockdown, but many have been allowed to repurpose their businesses as takeaways.
Government guidance says people can still access their local takeaway, but people are not allowed to consume any food or drinks on the premises.
Domino’s has remained open, introducing a contactless delivery option for customers at checkout.
Last month, Domino’s tweeted: ‘Domino’s is still OPEN to serve you.
‘Whether you prefer delivery or carry out from the store, we still offer easy ways to get you delicious pizza, including our new contactless delivery option to minimise contact between you and your delivery experts.’
In a separate post, the chain tweeted a photo explaining safety measures being taken its staff.
They also said team members wash their hands ‘after touching any surface’ and delivery drivers wash their hands ‘before and after every delivery run’, with pizza removed from the oven using a ‘pizza peel’ and then placed directly into a box.
Just days ago, Domino’s Pizza appointed the former boss of Costa Coffee as its new chief executive as the company takes another step towards replacing its whole top team.
Dominic Paul takes over after leading the coffee chain through its growth spurt ahead of its £3.9 billion sale to Coca-Cola by former owner Whitbread last year.
While in that post he introduced a drive-through and Costa Express service while restructuring the coffee shop’s international arm.
‘We are delighted to have attracted a CEO of Dominic’s calibre, and I’m very much looking forward to working with him. He is a high energy leader with great experience of driving powerful consumer brands to new heights, and of partnering with franchisees,’ said Domino’s chairman Matt Shattock.
Mr Paul will have to deal with a long-running battle with unhappy franchisees, who have been asking for a bigger slice of profits.
He said: ‘I am hugely excited to be joining Domino’s. It is a much-loved brand with great people and some of the best franchisees in the world, and there is a strong foundation to build on. I am confident that we can take the business to the next stage of its development, and build a long term and profitable future for our franchisees, colleagues, customers and shareholders.’
He takes over the reigns from former boss David Wild, who announced last year that we planned to step down.
It marks the second appointment to the pizza maker’s top team in the last few weeks after Mr Shattock took over as chairman earlier this month.
The company is also yet to replace former finance director David Bauernfeind who died in a Boxing Day accident last year while on holiday with his family.
Last week Domino’s said it had seen a massive spike in sales as customers stuck at home order in pizza. Order sizes have also grown.
A Dominio’s spokesperson said Mr Islam had not worked for Domino’s since 22 March, having decided not to come into work following the government’s nationwide lockdown.