Aldi is trialling sensory-friendly shopping hours in Yorkshire

Almost 100 stores across England are part of the trial.

The UK’s fourth biggest supermarket, Aldi, is trialling a new alternative shopping time for those ‘who prefer a quieter shopping experience or struggle with noisy environments’.

The sensory-friendly shopping hours will take place in select stores, right here in Yorkshire and across England in counties like Derbyshire, Nottingham and Lincolnshire until the end of October.

Every Tuesday between 6pm and 8.30pm, there will be no tannoy announcements and quieter till scan sounds will be deployed on till registers.

There will also be signposting to share the dedicated times with all customers in store and if the trial is successful, the initiative plans to be rolled out to all of Aldi’s UK stores.

The news follows Tesco’s decision to permanent quiet hours to make shopping in stores less ‘overwhelming’ back in 2021 and Morrisons in 2018, amongst other supermarkets.

Vicky Metcalf, Diversity and Inclusion Director at Aldi UK, 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.”

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The popular supermarket also notes that it recognises the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower ‘to help support customers and colleagues with non-visible disabilities’ and staff have undergone training so they can offer additional assistance to those that may need it.

Feature Image – ALDI