Sainsbury’s has announced the extension of a new trial to help enhance the shopping experience for customers with hidden disabilities. The initiative will offer shoppers the option to pick up a lanyard, which has been purposely designed to act as a discreet sign for store colleagues to recognise if they may need to provide a customer with additional support when in store.
Launched initially in Sainsbury’s Barnstaple and rolling out to more stores this month, the scheme helps those with a number of disabilities, such as autism, dementia, visual or hearing impairment. Colleagues will be happy to provide extra support such as opening a new checkout lane, assisting with finding shopping items or simply giving them more time at the checkout. Lanyards will be available to collect for free and are for each customer to keep so they can wear it every time they come into store.
Tim Fallowfield, Company Secretary & 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. We are working with our colleagues to ensure that they are fully equipped to provide assistance to those who need it and we encourage feedback from local communities where we are trialling the initiative.”
The additional stores partcicipating in Hertfordshire are:
- Ware Star Street
- Broxbourne High Road
- Waltham Cross
- Bishop Stortford
- Hertford
- Borehamwood Shenley Road
- Hoddesdon
- Welwyn Garden City
- London Colney
- Potters Bar
