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How Lodge is Responding to COVID-19

Dear Pan Fans,

We knew you liked us, we just didn’t know how much. 
 
Like most companies, we didn’t know what to expect when the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down. We followed federal recommendations and mandated a two-week temporary suspension of production in our foundries. After those two weeks, we were surprised to find that instead of reduced orders, more people than ever before wanted Lodge cookware in their homes.

And that was just the beginning. The world is embracing at-home cooking and we’re humbled by the number of people coming to our site in search of cookware that can handle any culinary idea they come up with—for generations. 

The result of this demand? Full hearts and an (almost) empty warehouse.

We’re rolling up our sleeves and working safely around the clock to produce and fulfill all the orders pouring in, but the orders are coming faster than we can work. Our top priority is to focus on replenishing our top-selling items. 

During this time, you may notice other items go out of stock on our website. When this happens, you can opt to receive an email when those items are back in stock. Please know we are keeping a close watch and will adjust our production schedule as needed to get your orders to you as quickly as possible.

People are recognizing that with us, making delicious meals at home is only part of the equation. The other part is joining not just the Lodge community, but a family, and that kind of connection will last long after COVID-19. So while this increased demand has also resulted in a delay of order shipments as well as a long customer care wait time (see details below), please know we’re still here. And we’re working hard for you so you can keep cooking.

For more information about how we’re responding to COVID-19, please read the following statement:

The impact of the COVID-19 virus has been felt around the world. So much has happened and so much is uncertain. But while there is uncertainty, there is also great encouragement. While we deal with unprecedented changes in our day-to-day lives, there’s comfort in the idea of embracing this slower pace to dust off an old cookbook, give to those in need, grab items from the pantry for a bit of creative cooking, and to focus on those we hold dear as we break bread together. 

As a business, our top priority at Lodge Cast Iron is to protect the safety of you and everyone in our Lodge family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this virus and we will continue to operate with the best interests of our employees, customers, and communities at heart.

Here are a few of the changes that are taking place at Lodge in the midst of COVID-19:

Tennessee Factory Stores to re-open
Lodge Cast Iron will be joining other Tennessee retailers to re-open our South Pittsburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville stores on Thursday, April 30. Our Charlotte Factory Store will remain closed to comply with North Carolina’s continued shelter-at-home order. 

We will be applying best practices recommended by Governor Bill Lee to keep employees and customers safe as we open our Tennessee doors. What you need to know:

-Check our Facebook pages before you visit for information regarding shortened store hours.
-We are practicing enhanced cleaning procedures in all areas.
-We are suspending all food demonstrations and sampling.
-Our staff will be wearing masks and gloves. 
-We’re limiting in-store capacity to 50%.
-Plexiglass dividers have been installed at the registers. 

We ask that all customers respect social distancing when in store during this time. We hope to see you soon in our Tennessee stores.

Foundry re-opens to meet increased demand
Over the last month, the country has shown great resilience as citizens shelter at home and take proper precautions to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Lodge temporarily suspended production in our foundries for two weeks to follow suit with other national retailers. 

During this time, we experienced an unexpected increase in consumer demand as people turned to home-cooked meals and, as a result, placed orders for our cookware. Lodge was deemed an essential business as defined by an executive order from the state of Tennessee as a manufacturer of household consumer products. We have resumed production in our South Pittsburg foundries to meet this consumer demand, after implementing many changes in our facilities to support social distancing. The precautions are as follows: all operations employees have been provided masks and gloves; areas where employees congregate have been eliminated; lines are taped on floors to indicate proper social distancing; work station sanitation measures are in place; and we've implemented hourly cleaning in all high-touch areas.

We are thankful for the support from our fans and the tremendous dedication of our employees.

We are also deeply grateful to our first responders and healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of this pandemic. To do our part to thank them for their service, we donated excess N-95 masks to local police, fire, and medical organizations. 

Shipments may experience a delay
Due to these current events, online order shipments may be delayed. We're working to get your order to you as quickly as possible. You can check the status of your order anytime here. Thank you for your patience.

We will keep you posted as we take this situation a day at a time and adhere to the guidance of the CDC and local and U.S. government officials. Thank you for your patience, and for being a part of the Lodge family.

We know it’s easy to feel worried and unsure during times like this. At Lodge, we believe food and cooking help keep us connected and grounded, so look to us for help and guidance in the kitchen in the days ahead. Check out our cooking content on Instagram and Facebook. Use our website as a resource and for recipe inspiration. Learn new techniques from our videos. Share your masterpieces and ask us questions. We’re still here. We’re all in this together. Let’s keep cooking.

Sincerely,

Lodge Cast Iron