Morrisons is extending its Quieter Hours across all its stores to help autistic shoppers have a calmer shopping experience.
The supermarket’s new hours will take place 2 – 3pm Monday to Thursday in addition to its origional weekend hours.
The group first introduced its Quieter Hour back in 2018, which involves turning down the lights in stores and turning both the tannoy and any music off on Saturdays from 9am – 10am in a bid to make stores more comfortable for shoppers with autism.
Other features include reduced movement of trolleys and baskets, the reduction of checkout beeps and other electrical noises, as well as notifying shoppers outside that it is Quieter Hours.
The extension coincides with World Autism Acceptance Week ( 2 – 8 April), with the aim of helping even more customers.
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Morrisons business sponsor of ability Charlotte Exell said: “The weekly shop can be a daunting task for those who may struggle with noises associated with it, from the crashing of trollies to loud voices and music.
“At Morrisons we are always looking for more ways to support customers, the Quieter Hour is incredibly popular in our stores across the nation so we have listened to customers and will now help more shoppers in our extended times.”
National Autistic Society corporate partnerships lead Tianna Cowan said: “It’s fantastic that Morrisons is extending its Quieter Hour initiative to support more customers while shopping. For some of the more than 700,000 autistic people in the UK, the loud, bright and crowded environments of supermarkets can be overwhelming.
“That’s why it’s vital for all businesses to learn more about the often-small adjustments they can make to be more autism friendly. It’s great to see businesses like Morrisons taking the time to understand and create a welcoming environment for autistic people and their families.”
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