Waitrose asks people to shop alone where possible

by Lisa Reeves

Monday 30^th March 2020

Mon 30^th Mar 2020

Since the UK went into lockdown a week ago, on Monday 23rd March, shoppers have seen a number of changes introduced at local supermarkets in a bid to protect customers and staff from the spread of coronavirus.

New measures includes reduced opening hours to enable staff to restock the shelves, limiting the number of purchases customers can make of certain food items, toiletries and cleaning products and the dedication of certain hours for the elderly, the vulnerable and NHS staff to do their shopping.

Additional safety measures include limiting the number of customers in stores at any one time, reducing the number of tills open, floor markers throughout stores and at the checkouts to allow greater distance between shoppers.

Customers are also being encouraged to use contactless or card payments and shops have introduced special protective screens at checkouts to protect staff.

The latest development at Waitrose is a request for, wherever possible, only one person to go shopping, rather than go along with their partner or children, to help them manage the number of customers in stores at any one time.

A spokesperson for Waitrose told wilmslow.co.uk "In line with the Government's guidance on social distancing we're asking customers to help us manage the number of people in our shops - by sending only one member of the household to do their shopping, if they possibly can. While this won't be possible for everybody, we are very grateful for our customers' support in this difficult situation."

It has been reported in several press that Waitrose "bans" couples and families from shopping together and the company is keen to stress this is not the case as they recognise that for some it is not possible, but where it is they would request that local residents do shop on their own to help them limit the number of people in the store at any one time.

Tags:: Waitrose

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Chris Easdown

Wednesday 1^st April 2020 at 2:59 pm

Well done Waitrose Not only Have you given the first hour 3 days a week to the elderly and most vulnerable adding only one member of a household to shop radically reduces the risk of this virus
Lidl you done nothing please learn

Mark Russell

Wednesday 1^st April 2020 at 7:04 pm

Lidl don’t have the staff to control this sort of thing. That’s why they are cheap, lesser overheads.

Neda Metcalfe

Wednesday 1^st April 2020 at 7:35 pm

Not really been any need for it at Lidl shelves are well stocked good queue system that moves quickly, maximum 30 people in store at one time then one out one in. Staff polite and helpful. Only grumble no sanitizers at the entrance to wipe trolley/basket handles but not had any instance where I couldn’t find what I needed

Simon Worthington

Thursday 2^nd April 2020 at 1:14 pm

Last Sunday as Sainsburys caused crowding as staff examined their watches waiting for the dot of 10.30am to open tills (seeing as supermarkets are the only shops open on Sunday why the six hour rule) a couple (complete with smug London exile type smirks, he with hipster beard) and two small kids walked into the store. After three people expressed concern at their abject stupidity they left sans smug smirks.
I have long wondered why these types have a family outing to the supermarket at weekends when it is busy.
I DO understand why single parents take their sprogs!!!

Sarah Wilkinson

Saturday 4^th April 2020 at 7:42 am

Sainsbury's Wilmslow Monday afternoon - mother/carer with 8/9 year old boy, standing together in the queue before being admitted to the store where "social distancing" began i.e. mother/carer left child to his own devices while she shopped. He was coughing continually; into the air and over food, no tissue. "Mother" occasionally reprimanded him but he said he couldn't help it. I kept my distance but I WILL be wearing a face mask next time I visit. I appreciate that children cannot be left at home alone BUT when visiting shops, especially food shops, surely parents should take some responsibility for the actions of their children. Perhaps supermarkets could post polite reminders that children must be directly supervised?