COVID 19 (Coronavirus)

November 13, 2020 - Head Office Temporarily Closed

To all customers, suppliers, and associates

As of November 12th, Frendel Kitchens Limited has temporarily suspended its operations at the 1350 Shawson Drive facility following two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past week. This facility includes our main production environment and our head office.

This suspension of operations does not affect the Frendel Kitchen & Bath Design Studio or the Customer Care department that operates from 5850 Dixie Road. The Frendel Distribution Centre at 1625 Enterprise Road is also permitted to remain open.

Staff will be working remotely and are available by phone or email to answer any questions you may have. We will be working to minimize the disruption to our customers and suppliers during this time. All inquiries regarding the delivery and production schedule can be sent to scheduling@frendel.com.

We will continue to communicate through e-mail and to post updates to our website at www.Frendel.com/Covid-19.

Background

On November 7th we were advised that one of our production employees had tested positive for COVID-19. As a company, we took the necessary steps in closing our production departments and working with Peel Public Health.  We identified those individuals that were in close contact with the infected employee and directed them to get tested and begin a self-isolation.

On November 9th, we hired an outside cleaning service to sanitize and disinfect our production floor. Following these steps, we were able to resume full production operations on Wednesday, November 11th.

On November 12th we were notified by a different employee that they had received confirmation of a positive result. Shortly after Peel Public Health advised us to have all employees at the facility tested as a result of the second confirmed case. Of note is that this employee was last at work on November 6th.

Sincerely,

Frendel Kitchens Limited

October 9, 2020 - Pre-screening Health Forms

Recent changes made by the Government of Ontario and the Region of Peel now require screening to be completed for all visitors and employees upon arrival. Further to this masks must be worn when inside a workplace or entering a business.

As an employee, contractor, supplier, or essential visitor to Frendel Kitchens Limited it is both expected and required that this screening form be completed prior to entering Frendel or working on our sites. Individuals that fail the screening will not be permitted to attend or enter the facilities until they can pass the screening.

Employee Screening Form

Visitor Screening Form

March 25, 2020 - Operations Suspended until Monday, April 6th

Yesterday the Government of Ontario issued an order for the closure of all non-essential businesses in the province. Since we are a supplier to the construction industry, we are considered to be an essential service. However, Frendel Kitchens Limited has decided to extend the suspension of our operations until Monday, April 6, 2020. We believe this is the proper course of action to help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of our employees and their families.

We understand the impact this decision will have on your business and operations and would like to thank you for your continued understanding and patience during this time.

We have a number of staff working remotely and are available by phone and email to answer any questions you may have. All inquiries regarding the delivery and production schedule can be sent to scheduling@frendel.com. For those involved in our supply chain we will work with you to reschedule any deliveries when we return.

We will continue to communicate through e-mail and to post updates to our website at www.Frendel.com/Covid-19.

Sincerely,

Frendel Kitchens Limited

March 20, 2020 - Operations Suspended until March 30

As we have stated previously Frendel Kitchens Limited is closely monitoring the risks associated with COVID-19 (coronavirus), and we are taking the responsible and necessary precautionary measures to protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers, suppliers and trade partners.

After speaking with Peel Public Health and reviewing the circumstances surrounding our decisions to send all staff home yesterday Frendel Kitchens Limited has decided to extend our precautionary measures and suspend our operations until Monday, March 30th 2020. Our goal right now is to make sure we protect the health of our employees and their families.

We understand the impact this decision will have on your business and operations and would like to thank you for your continued understanding and patience during this time. We have a number of staff working remotely and are available by phone and email to answer any questions you may have. For those involved in our supply chain we will work with you to reschedule any deliveries when we return.

We will continue communicate through e-mail and to post updates to our website at www.Frendel.com/Covid-19.

Sincerely,

Frendel Kitchens Limited

March 19, 2020 - Open Letter to all Employees, Customers, & Suppliers

Good Morning Everyone,

As we have stated previously Frendel Kitchens Limited is closely monitoring the risks associated with COVID-19 (coronavirus), and we are taking the responsible and necessary precautionary measures to protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers, suppliers and trade partners.

This morning those necessary precautionary measures included sending all staff and employees home for the remainder of the week and possibly longer. This includes three separate facilities from which we operate; 1. Main Plant & Office, 2. Design Studio, Countertop Facility, & Customer Care, & 3. Frendel Distribution Centre & Warehouse.

Earlier today we were informed that one of our employees had members of their household test positive for COVID-19. The family members were not showing any signs or symptoms. They were informed when routine blood work came back with signs of the virus. Because of this result a test was taken on Tuesday and the results were confirmed Wednesday night by Public Health. The employee (Panel Processing) was at work on both Tuesday and Wednesday and was part of a carpool with other employees (Finishing, Custom) on both days, to-and-from our Main Plant and Office. The employee did not attend work today (Thursday) and informed us as the operations were starting.

It is important to note that of those (three) employees, none of them are currently showing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and have begun self-isolation. The company has made this move as a precautionary measure until we can confirm if any signs and symptoms become present. We are working with Peel Public Health to determine what the next steps will be.

For those involved in our supply chain we will reschedule deliveries once we know more. We will continue communicate through e-mail and to post updates to our website at www.Frendel.com/Covid-19. Thank you for your continued understanding and patience during this time.

Sincerely,

Robert Deltin

General Manager
Frendel Kitchens Limited

March 18, 2020 - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update - Design Studio - Retail Location

With the outbreak of COVID-19, the Frendel Kitchen & Bath Design Studio (The Design Studio) team have been focused on the safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers. Please know that we have plans in place to prioritize your health and meet the needs of our customers who depend on us, as we navigate these uncertain times.

As a local employer, we are committed to standing united with the local health authorities and the global community in taking recommended precautions – and with that, we have amplified health and safety measures for our employees and customers.

Effective Immediately;

  1. The Design Studio is closed to the general public for browsing and any new orders.
  2. All existing customers are asked to call ahead of any planned visit to receive the most up to date information with regards to the current public health situation.
  3. To check on the status of deliveries and pick up orders please call 1(866)FRENDEL or 1(866)373-6335 and our team will be happy to answer your questions.

Sincerely,

Frendel Kitchen & Bath Design Studio

March 17, 2020 - Customer Care Policy Change

As mentioned previously Frendel Kitchens Limited is closely monitoring the risks associated with COVID-19 (coronavirus), and we are taking the responsible and necessary precautionary measures to protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers, suppliers and trade partners.

As the situation continues to evolve we have noticed increased difficulty in booking appointments for our customer care staff with homeowners. We have received notices from several sites prohibiting post-occupancy service and others have asked for measures to be taken that we cannot currently accommodate. Due to the ever changing situation we have made the decision to suspend all post-occupancy service effective Thursday March 19, 2020 until further notice. Any appointments booked with a homeowner for Thursday will be cancelled. We will shift our focus to pre-occupancy homes for the time being in order to maintain a site presence and minimize any future post-occupancy work.

Please continue to check our website at www.Frendel.com/Covid-19 for the most up to date information. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.

Sincerely,

Frendel Kitchens Limited

March 16, 2020 - Letter to Customers / Suppliers

Frendel Kitchens Limited is closely monitoring the risks associated with COVID-19 (coronavirus), and we are taking the responsible and necessary precautionary measures to protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers, suppliers and trade partners.

We are continuing to closely monitor and gather data on this rapidly changing situation from official sources such as The World Health Organization (WHO), Health Canada and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): We will be posting updates to our website at www.Frendel.com/Covid-19

Our staff have already started to follow several precautions and we encourage you to as well:

  • Washing our hands frequently, covering coughs or sneezes and frequently cleaning and disinfecting shared surfaces and objects.
  • Our employees have been instructed to stay home if they are feeling unwell.
  • Our employees who have recently returned from any travel outside of Canada have been instructed to self-isolate for a period of 14 days before returning to work.
  • All work-related travel outside of normal travel within local operations has been suspended.
  • All non-scheduled visits to our office by suppliers or other people in our supply chain have been suspended.

For the health and safety of our customers, employees, and trade partners, we are asking all homeowners we visit and anyone who visits us to answer following three questions:

  1. Have you, or any member of your household experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, or difficulty breathing within the past 14 days?
  2. Have you, or any member of your household been diagnosed; or been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed; or someone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 within the past 14 days?
  3. Have you, or any member of your household travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?

If any of the questions are answered with a YES, our staff has been asked to inform the individual that we cannot confirm an appointment or allow them to visit our office at this time. Our staff will follow up with them at a future date to re-schedule the appointment. We will make our building partners and suppliers aware of any such case immediately.

Our goal is to provide our employees and those they interact with, with a great experience while maintaining a safe environment. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.

Sincerely,

Frendel Kitchens Limited

March 11, 2020 - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update

We are beginning to look at how COVID-19 may impact our business. In the coming days we will be communicating by posting information on the main message boards and through the company email.

In the meantime given the increased cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in some countries, Peel Public Health has shared the following considerations for those deciding to travel. At this time, the recommendations from the Region of Peel are to follow Government of Canada travel alerts and information and to avoid all non-essential travel to countries flagged as ‘high risk.

It is important to understand that COVID-19 is having an impact globally, and that non-essential travel in general is an additional risk that we should all consider. The Public Health Agency of Canada is also recommending avoiding all cruise ship travel in light of the risk associated with the COVID-19 virus. All travelers are advised to monitor themselves for symptoms and to contact their local Public Health unit if they feel sick.

If you plan to travel outside Canada, it is important to monitor your health when you return as you may have come in contact with the COVID-19 virus while abroad. Travelers should monitor their health for fever, cough and difficulty breathing for 14 days after they arrive in Canada.

If you have these symptoms, contact your local Public Health unit within 24 hours of arriving in Canada. For Mississauga and Brampton residents they can contact 905-799-7700, and they will provide advice on what you should do.

All other travelers are advised to:

  • Monitor their health for flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, and difficulty breathing) for 14 days from the date they departed.Contact your Public Health Unit immediately if you develop flu-like symptoms.
  • Stay home if you’re feeling sick/unwell.
  • Follow the advice of your health care provider if you have been asked to self-monitor.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you are unable to wash your hands.
  • Practice good cough and sneezing etiquette by coughing and sneezing into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
  • Wash your hands after coughing and sneezing.

At this time, the risk for residents of the GTA and Ontario remains low. If this changes and public health agencies direct additional monitoring or precautionary measures, we will let you know.

Sincerely,

Frendel Kitchens Limited