The UK’s fourth largest supermarket is offering quieter shopping hours in selected stores in a bid to be more inclusive of  customers with invisible disabilities

Aldi GB is trialling sensory-friendly shopping hours in selected UK stores for several weeks between August and October.

Almost 100 Aldi stores across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire will offer a quieter shopping experience every Tuesday between 6pm and 8.30pm from 7 August until the end of October.

If successful, the initiative will be rolled out to all of Aldi’s UK stores, with changes including stopping tannoy announcements, quieter till scan sounds, and signposting the dedicated times to all customers.

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.”

Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket also recognises the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to help support customers and colleagues with non-visible disabilities.

Staff at Aldi stores have also undergone training around hidden disabilities and the Sunflower symbol, so they can offer additional assistance to those who may require it.

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