SUPERMARKETS have been making changes to make the shopping experience easier for all customers.
Some stores have introduced “quiet hours” over the past year to accommodate shoppers who struggle with loud noises and bright lights, such as those with Autism.
The quiet hours have proved so successful that more are following in their footsteps or extending the number hours at which they turn down the volume.
The steps stores have taken include turning off background music, dimming lights and lowering the volume of checkouts and other devices.
Commenting on the introduction of quieter shopping hours, Tom Purser, Head of Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “Autistic people represent a huge part of our society – around one in 100 people in the UK.
“It’s important that autistic children, adults and their families have the opportunity to go to the shops, just like anyone else.
“But many find the crowds, noise and unpredictability of our high streets completely overwhelming and end up avoiding them altogether.
“The smallest changes can help open up the high street for autistic people – things like staff finding out a bit more about autism and making simple adjustments such as turning down music or dimming the lights.”
So, if you’re looking for a quieter shopping experience we’ve rounded up all the supermarkets offering the opportunity to shop in serenity.
Asda
Asda holds a “quieter hour” between 2pm and 3pm from Monday to Thursday in its larger stores.
During these quieter hours, stores turn off Asda Radio and team members work as quietly as possible.
The store introduced the quieter hours in 2021 and, at the same time, trained more than 85,000 colleagues to better serve customers with additional needs.
You can check to see if your local store holds quieter hours here.
Tesco
Tesco holds “Quiet Hour” in all its UK stores between 9am and 10am on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
During this hour, the stores dim the lights and lower the volume of checkout noises and other devices.
When the hours were introduced in 2021, Claire Pickthall, Tesco’s customer proposition director, said: “We know that almost 20% of the population in the UK have a disability and we want to be able to help our customers as much as we can.
“So I am really proud that at Tesco, we are taking another step in being a more inclusive business by introducing Quiet Hour across all our stores.
“I know that for some people the shopping trip can be stressful and not just for people with a disability but for others looking for a calmer place to shop.
“We want everyone to know that Tesco is a welcome place for everyone to come and shop or work with us.”
Morrisons
Morrisons launched its quieter hour in 2018 and in April announced it will be extending the number of hours at which it turns down the radio volume.
The quiet hour was originally introduced between 9am and 10am on Saturdays, and for the first hour of trading on a Sunday morning.
It has now extended the scheme and turns down the volume between 2pm and 3pm from Mondays to Thursdays.
During these times, the stores lower levels of lighting, turn off music, avoid making tannoy announcements, as well as reduce the movement of trolleys and baskets and turn down the volume of checkout beeps.
A poster is also placed outside supermarkets to inform customers they are shopping during a quieter hour.
Lidl
Lidl hosts Autism Aware Quiet Evenings every Tuesday between 6pm and 8pm across all of its stores.
During these times lighting is lowered, music is turned off, announcements are stopped, the volume of tills is turned down, and priority queueing is offered.
The supermarket also offers maps and shopping lists to help children with autism prepare and organise their shopping trips.
Aldi
Aldi supermarkets in Ireland offer quieter shopping periods between 6.30pm to 8.30pm every Tuesday.
During these times tannoy announcements are stopped and checkout sounds are lowered in volume.
A trial was carried out across the retailer’s UK supermarkets in 2023, but Aldi has not confirmed that this was continued.
Aldi has also trained staff to recognise hidden disabilities and assist shoppers.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has previously trialled quieter periods, but does not currently have set hours set aside across its stores.
However, it has given its staff over 50,000 hours of disability awareness since 2016.
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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