Morrisons is to introduce a quieter hour in all of its stores for customers who would benefit from a calmer shopping trip.

Designed to help customers who currently struggle with music and the other noise associated with supermarket shopping, it will take place every Saturday in all 493 of its stores nationwide from 9-10am.

The Quieter Hour initiative has been created with the support of the National Autistic Society - many people who are autistic or those with autistic children can find shopping in a supermarket an anxious experience.

So Morrisons carried out a trial earlier in the year in three of its stores - Lincoln, Woking and Gainsborough - to find out what improvements can be made and to find a convenient time each week for the ‘Quieter Hour’ to take place.

Listening to customers they found one in five had a friend or family member with autism and many appreciated the option to shop at that time on a Saturday.

During Quieter Hours stores will:
● Dim the lights
● Turn music and radio off
● Avoid making tannoy announcements
● Reduce movement of trolleys and baskets
● Turn checkout beeps and other electrical noises down
● Place a poster outside to tell customers it’s Quieter Hour.

Morrisons will also work to improve awareness amongst colleagues of the issues autistic customers face in store.

Daniel Cadey, the from the National Autistic Society said: “Around 700,000 people are on the autism spectrum in the UK. This means they see, hear and feel the world differently to other people, often in a more intense way. Morrisons ‘Quieter Hour’ is a step in the right direction for autistic people who find supermarket shopping a real struggle.”

Angela Gray, Morrisons Community Champion at Woking said: “I was involved in the initial trial as my son is autistic and we found that these changes made a real difference. The trial showed there is a need for a quieter shopping experience for some customers.”

they do this in Chester. I was in there the other day and the lights went out it was eerie

Morrisons need to sort the exit for people who actually shop there, trying to get out of the place against the lottery/tobacco/customer service/toilet/bacon butty tidal wave is a joke if I have spent £70 on shopping I don't expect my path out of the store blocked by starving incontinent smokers buying another losing lucky dip.

Originally Posted by Little Londoner

Morrisons need to sort the exit for people who actually shop there, trying to get out of the place against the lottery/tobacco/customer service/toilet/bacon butty tidal wave is a joke if I have spent £70 on shopping I don't expect my path out of the store blocked by starving incontinent smokers buying another losing lucky dip.

And then negotiate your way past the moronic staff taking a sly ciggy break round the corner.

Originally Posted by Little Londoner

Morrisons need to sort the exit for people who actually shop there, trying to get out of the place against the lottery/tobacco/customer service/toilet/bacon butty tidal wave is a joke if I have spent £70 on shopping I don't expect my path out of the store blocked by starving incontinent smokers buying another losing lucky dip.

Quite agree, I have been moaning about this everytime I leave Morrisons, usually saying to my wife (in a loud voice) about it being a death trap if there was ever a fire.
I am sure that it wouldn't pass fire safety regs.

Originally Posted by Kafoozalum

Quite agree, I have been moaning about this everytime I leave Morrisons, usually saying to my wife (in a loud voice) about it being a death trap if there was ever a fire.
I am sure that it wouldn't pass fire safety regs.

Why? would those in the queue not be exiting the building too? Passage way isn't blocked by anything other than customers.

Originally Posted by Ceam

Why? would those in the queue not be exiting the building too? Passage way isn't blocked by anything other than customers.

Yes it is, it's blocked by:
Ride on toys
Kiddy-car trollies
A bench
Magazine stands
Those queue-divider things by the lottery desk

I agree, it's an inconvenience and a potential hazard.

Originally Posted by Kafoozalum

Quite agree, I have been moaning about this everytime I leave Morrisons, usually saying to my wife (in a loud voice) about it being a death trap if there was ever a fire.
I am sure that it wouldn't pass fire safety regs.

I often find saying things passively gets things done really quickly - particularly in a loud voice.

Originally Posted by K-T

Yes it is, it's blocked by:
Ride on toys
Kiddy-car trollies
A bench
Magazine stands
Those queue-divider things by the lottery desk

I agree, it's an inconvenience and a potential hazard.

In that case is the answer to phone health and safety. Or is every one that has an issue leaving it up to someone else? Or do people just like to moan and do nothing?