With their bright lights, noisy machines and busy customers, supermarkets can be overwhelming places for those with extra sensory needs.
But from next week, Aldi is hoping to make the experience a little easier, with the introduction of sensory-friendly hours.
Every Tuesday between 6pm and 8.30pm, staff will aim to create a quieter, more relaxed environment. Tannoy announcements will be paused and the sound on till scanners will be turned downed low.
For now, the change is just a trial, taking place across almost 100 stores in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire until the end of October. It’ll be a permanent fixture if it’s popular with shoppers.
You’ll find signposting in your local Aldi if the store is taking part.
Vicky Metcalf, diversity and inclusion director at Aldi UK, said the budget supermarket is ‘committed to ensuring we are as accessible and inclusive as possible – both for shoppers and colleagues’.
Writing for Metro.co.uk, mum and presenter Emily Leary previously said quiet hours are a great ‘first step’ for creating autism-friendly environments, but more needs to be done.
‘As the parent of a child on the autistm spectrum (and another one who isn’t), I think offering an alternative shopping experience for those with sensory processing challenges is an excellent first step,’ she said.
‘However, it’s important that such very well-intentioned initiatives are backed up beyond those hours.
‘My nine-year-old son is on the autism spectrum. I warmly welcome any initiative that helps him learn how the world works at his own pace, but I would hate to feel that ‘autism hours’ were the only time we were welcome to shop. As much as I’m keen to welcome such initiatives with open arms, I’m inclined to do so with caution.’
Colleagues at Aldi have also undergone training around hidden disabilities and the Sunflower symbol, so they can offer additional assistance to those who may require it.
And if you don’t live by an Aldi? Don’t worry, it’s not the first supermarket to come up with this concept.
Quiet hours at other UK supermarkets
- Tesco has a quiet hour every Wednesday and Saturday from 9am to 10am.
- Asda has sensory-friendly hours between 2pm and 3pm every Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Morrisons has a quiet hour each Sunday between 9am and 10am.
- Lidl’s ‘Autism Aware’ quiet evenings are every Tuesday from 6pm – 8pm.
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