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Colorado grocery stores to hire thousands to meet high demand

Chains like King Soopers and Safeway are hiring to meet the huge demand during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

DENVER — Grocery stores are not short on food, and they are not short on jobs.

King Soopers and Safeway are hiring as they work to meet the demand during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Both chains have announced they are hiring for departments across the board.

At Safeways in Colorado, managers are looking for store employees, delivery drivers and distribution center employees. There are more than 1,000 immediate job openings in the region, according to a  release from the company.

The release said benefits may include employee discounts, paid training and medical benefits, depending on the role.

Job openings have been posted online. People can also inquire in person at a store.

King Soopers held a hiring event over the weekend, but the chain is still looking for new staff. In the immediate future, they want to hire people to bag groceries, retrieve carts, stock shelves, unload trucks and more.

Applicants could be hired and working within days. People who are interested can find jobs on the chain's website.

While the demand is high, grocery stores are asking people not to "panic buy" right now. King Soopers told 9NEWS there is no reason for people to be alarmed because they have an entire warehouse – which spans nearly 20 acres – filled with supplies to restock the chain’s 153 stores. 

And though businesses like restaurants and bars are closing to dine-in customers, grocery stores will remain operational. Hours at several locations, however, have been scaled back to allow time to stock shelves.

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