NEW: Ohio firm to supply face masks as mask demand ramps up

As Kroger and other companies increasingly require employees to wear face masks on the job, an Ohio company is getting to work procuring the masks.

Columbus-based Facemasks for All said Monday it is prepared to equip businesses across Ohio with three-ply, non-surgical, non-medical facemasks when employees head back to work.

The demand for facemasks is expected to exceed supply as businesses reopen and stay-at-home restrictions ease, a release from the company said.

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to announce specific requirements for business to reopen soon.

“Facemasks for All has access to up to 100,000 masks available for next-day delivery, and additional quantities can be provided within four to ten days,” the business said. “These are three-ply, non-surgical masks suitable for most non-medical business. Hundreds of thousands have already been supplied to nonprofits and municipalities across the state.”

“As of yesterday, all Kroger stores are requiring their employees to wear facemasks during their work,” Vince McMorrow, an executive with communication firm Fahlgren Mortine, noted in an email Monday. “This is a trend we see happening with other businesses.”

Masks from Facemasks for All are available in minimum quantities of 2,000. The “average” cost per mask is lower than 90 cents and is less than 66 cents when pre-paying with eight to ten days of lead time, the company said.

The company procures the face masks from American and international sources; it does not manufacture the masks, a spokesman for the business said. He also said the company is not supplying Kroger with masks.

Facemasks for All says it has access to up to 100,000 masks available for next-day delivery. Additional quantities can be provided within four to ten days.

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