Sainsbury’s extends trial of scheme for shoppers with hidden disabilities
Sainsbury’s is extending a trial scheme that helps customers with hidden disabilities when shopping in-store.
The initiative offers shoppers the option to pick up a lanyard in-store that helps store staff to recognise if they need additional support with their shopping.
Launched initially in Sainsbury’s Barnstaple shop, the scheme is being rolled out to more stores this month. The supermarket said it aims to help customers with disabilities such as autism, dementia and visual or hearing impairment.
Shoppers wearing the lanyards may see a new checkout lane opened for them, get help with finding shopping items, or simply be given more time at the checkout. Lanyards are available to collect for free and can kept by the customer to wear each time they visit a store.
Sainsbury’s said the scheme at its Gatwick Airport store has been particularly successful with over 10,000 lanyards collected to date. The supermarket is hoping that the news will encourage other retailers to follow suit.
Tim Fallowfield, company secretary and corporate services director for Sainsbury’s, said: “We want to be the most inclusive retailer and we understand that a busy supermarket environment can present challenges for some of our customers. As the first retailer to offer this service, this initiative is just one example of the steps we are taking to give our customers the best possible experience when shopping.”
