Coronavirus: Latest supermarket product limits and restricted opening hours amid COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is stretching supermarkets to their limit as they struggle to meet the demand caused by panic buying while keeping staff and customers safe.
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Here’s a round-up of how the UK’s big supermarkets are responding to the challenge, from limiting hours and introducing dedicated times for older shoppers to restricting bulk buying.

MORRISONS

Morrisons is recruiting 3,500 staff to help meet demand and has set up a colleague hardship fund for wokers struggling to make ends meet, while also guaranteeing sick pay for employees who contract coronavirus and making anyone affected by self-isolation or having to look after close family members eligible for sick pay, alternative shifts or holiday.

Supermarkets have been putting limits on products, reducing hours and introduced reserved times for elderly and vulnerable shoppers in response to coronavirusSupermarkets have been putting limits on products, reducing hours and introduced reserved times for elderly and vulnerable shoppers in response to coronavirus
Supermarkets have been putting limits on products, reducing hours and introduced reserved times for elderly and vulnerable shoppers in response to coronavirus
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To protect staff and shoppers, customers are being asked to pay by card or smartphone where possible, hand sanitiser has been introduced at checkouts and workers who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 have been redeployed where possible.

Tributes paid to Sheffield man who died after contracting coronavirus

Home deliveries are being expanded, with more delivery slot made available and a new range of easy to order food parcels being introduced.

Morrisons is looking for around 2,500 new pickers and drivers, plus 1,000 extra people to work in its distribution centres, and vacancies will be advertised at morrisons.jobs.

TESCO

From Thursday, March 19, Tesco is limiting customers to buying three of any product and removing multi-buy promotions.

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All stores will now close at 10pm to help staff keep them clean, restock shelves and get some rest, and all meat, fish and deli counters, along with salad bars, are closing.

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A priority shopping hour is being introduced at all stores other than Express outlets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9am and 10am for more vulnerable and elderly customers.

Social distancing measures are being introduced to help maintain the Government-recommended two-metre separation, with green markings indicating where shoppers should stand to pack and pay, and red ones showing where not to stand.

Tesco’s CEO Dave Lewis also reminded shoppers how challenging things were for staff, adding: “If you do go in-store and want to say thank you, then I'm sure they'd appreciate it.”

ASDA

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Additional cleaning materials have been placed in stores, high-traffic areas are being cleaned more frequently and trolleys and baskets are being sanitised between uses.

Since Wednesday, March 18, customers have been limited to three of any product in the food, toiletries and cleaning sections, and people are being encouraged to buy only what they need.

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From Friday March 20, between opening time and 9am larger stores will be made available only to vulnerable people and those caring for them.

Non-essential services like rotisserie and pizza counters are being temporarily closed to free up space in its warehouses and ensure there are more staff available to restock shelves.

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All its 24-hour stores will also close between midnight and 6am to provide more time for cleaning and stacking shelves.

ALDI

Stores will close earlier, at 8pm, from Friday, March 20, with Sunday hours unaffected.

Customers have been reminded to follow social distancing advice and keep at least two metres away from other shoppers and from staff when paying.

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Shoppers have been limited to buying four of any product per visit and have been asked to use card or contactless payment where possible, and to wash their hands thoroughly and regularly.

SAINSBURY’S

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Shoppers have been limited to buying three of any particular grocery item per visit and two of the most popular products, including toilet roll and long life milk.

Meat, fish and pizza counters are being closed to focus on more essential products.

The first hour of trading is being reserved for shoppers aged over 70 or who are vulnerable.

LIDL

A limit of four items per customer has been introduced across all products.

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A spokeswoman for Lidl said: “Our teams are working very hard to ensure that all customers continue to have access to all of the products that they need.

“We continue to be mindful of government advice regarding those who are considered to be at risk, and have taken the decision not to implement certain measures that may contradict this.

“Nevertheless, we are continually looking at opportunities to support the most vulnerable people within our communities, whilst ensuring that we are also supporting those that are playing a critical role in caring for them.”

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