Sainsbury's Introducing Hour Of Shopping For Elderly And Vulnerable Customers Only

Sainsbury's has announced it will be introducing new measures to help elderly and vulnerable shoppers during the coronavirus outbreak, including the introduction of an hour of shopping exclusively for those two groups.

From tomorrow [Thursday 19 March] all stores will set aside the first hour of trading for elderly and vulnerable to do their shopping, so they are able to get what they need.

Chief executive Mike Coupe said in a statement to customers: "I hope that you can respect this decision and will work with us as we try our best to help those that it the most. If you or an elderly family member, friend or neighbour would like to shop during this hour, please check online for your local supermarket opening hours."

Customers over 70 and those who have a disability will also be given priority access to online delivery slots from Monday [23 March].

Alongside new rules for the elderly and vulnerable, today Sainsbury's is introducing a limit of three of any grocery products and a maximum of two on certain popular items such as toilet paper, soaps and long-life milk.

PA

Coupe said: "As we work to feed the nation, we are also focusing all of our efforts on getting as much food and other essential items from our suppliers, into our warehouses and onto shelves as we possibly can.

"We still have enough food for everyone - if we all just buy what we need for us and our families."

Coupe also announced Sainsbury's will be closing its cafes, meat, fish and pizza counters to give extra freight space for essential items.

PA

Other supermarkets have announced similar plans, with Iceland stores introducing special time slots for elderly and vulnerable shoppers.

It comes after images and videos shared on social media over the past couple of weeks have shown bare shelves, lengthy queues and even fights as people panic buy amid the coronavirus outbreak.

It's okay to not panic. LADbible and UNILAD's aim with our campaign, Cutting Through, is to provide our community with facts and stories from the people who are either qualified to comment or have experienced first-hand the situation we're facing. For more information from the World Health Organisation on Coronavirus, click here.

Topics: uk news, coronavirus

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19