Seats for a breather as store introduces ‘slow shopping’

A supermarket is introducing a weekly “slow shopping” session to help elderly or vulnerable customers.

The Sainsbury’s store in Gosforth, Newcastle, will have staff on hand to greet people at the door and help with their shopping as well as putting out chairs at the end of aisles.

The trial, which will run every Tuesday between 1pm and 3pm, will also see two help desks set up offering free samples of fruit, biscuits and cake.

Katherine Vero came up with the idea after finding it difficult to go shopping with her mother who had developed dementia.

She said: “I didn’t want her to stop going out and become isolated. I wondered if there was a way to help us enjoy shopping. After she passed away, I was inspired to come up with the idea of slow shopping and was delighted when Sainsbury’s agreed to help.”

Earlier this year, an Asda store in Manchester introduced a “quiet hour” for autistic and disabled shoppers Electronic distractions, such as display TVs, were switched off and there were no announcements on the Tannoy.