Aldi has announced plans to trial sensory-friendly shopping hours across some stores.
The hours will be tested at the grocer from next week until the end of October, across nearly 100 sites throughout Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
The quieter supermarket experience will run every Tuesday from 6pm to 8.30pm.
Changes for customers will include stopping tannoy announcements, quieter till scan sounds and signposting the dedicated times to all shoppers.
If the trial proves successful, the dedicated shopping hours will be implemented across all of Aldi’s UK supermarkets.
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Aldi UK diversity and inclusion director Vicky Metcalf said: “Our new sensory-friendly shopping hours aim to help those who prefer a quieter shopping experience or struggle with noisy environments.
“We are committed to ensuring we are as accessible and inclusive as possible – both for shoppers and colleagues – and we look forward to receiving customer feedback on this trial to help inform our approach on a national level”.
Earlier this year, Currys introduced nationwide ‘Quiet Hour’ to support its neurodiverse shoppers, in a bid to create a more inclusive shopping experience.
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1 Comment. Leave new
what about people who are light sensitive. lowering LED light, Xmas lights, flashing lights, fluorescent and blue lights won’t help us. I’ve autism and other sensory issues. I can’t go out at night due to street lights and car headlights which cause me seizures as they are all LED. Look at Light Aware the charity. Ask them for advice. Sensory isn’t just noise. it’s a start but we need to be included all the time not just for a few hours. Also, we need better and safer allergy free foods.