“When my father developed cancer, I saw how hard he found shopping yet he still wanted to go to maintain his independence, so when Katherine approached me about Slow Shopping I was keen to help”.
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“Slow Shopping” offers dedicated times within the week where customers are given extra time and space to shop and are helped by trained staff who are aware of their needs.
Chairs will be set out at the end of each aisle for customers to sit and take a rest during their shop.
The major retailer’s store in Gosworth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne is trialling the new concept aimed at helping the elderly and customers with mental and physical disabilities to shop easily around the store and maintain their independence.
But one United Kingdom supermarket will be slowing down the pace for two hours each day to help elderly customers and people with disabilities.
Katherine Vero – whose mum Jo passed away recently – says the illness made the weekly shop “stressful and difficult”. Staff will also be on hand to greet people at the door and help them pick out their shopping.
After her mother died, she came up with the Slow Shopping idea and asked her local Sainsbury’s in Gosford to get involved. “I hope other retailers will follow”, said Ms Vero.
There are also two help desks, which give out samples of some favourite snacks, including Victoria sponge and ginger biscuits.
Deputy manager of Sainsbury’s Gosforth store, Scott McMahon, is delighted to be trialling the new concept.
According to research carried out by Alzheimer’s Society, 850,000 people in the United Kingdom are living with dementia and 80 percent of people with the condition say shopping is their favourite activity.
‘I knew Sainsbury’s would want to support it too. However, despite enjoying shopping, one in four people with the people had given it up.
‘But I didn’t want her to stop going out and become isolated, ‘ she explains.
In the past year, Sainsbruy’s has invested over 50,000 hours in training employees to help customers who have both visible and non-visible disabilities.
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The Slow Shopping trials start from today, Tuesday, August 30 at the Gosforth store.
