New supermarket opening times and 'special hours' for elderly and NHS workers for Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Aldi and Morrisons

With lockdown in full swing, it can be difficult to keep track of what day it is- let alone the best time to go to the supermarket.

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Here is the current list of opening times for major supermarkets- including any dedicated hours for the elderly, vulnerable and NHS workers.

TESCO

A number of stores are now operating at reduced hours.

(Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)(Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Some Tesco Extra stores and larger Metro stores have reduced their hours to between 6am and 10pm, in order to be able to properly restock overnight.

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Tesco have also introduced a special shopping hour for its workers and NHS staff. Those eligible will be able to browse an hour before traditional shop opening hours on Sundays, and will have an hour between 9am and 10am to shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays at all stores except for Express stores.

In a statement, Tesco said: "All we ask is that they bring a form of ID with them to store, such as an NHS staff card.”

Elderly and vulnerable priority time runs at larger stores on Fridays from 9am-10am, Mondays from 9am-10am and Wednesdays from 9am-10am.

(Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)(Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Times can vary and may change, so check your local Tesco store, visit: tesco.com/store-locator/uk/

MORRISONS

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The supermarket has introduced an NHS hour at all of their stores every day, Mondays to Saturdays from 7am to 8am.

Morrisons has not yet announced special opening times for the elderly.

To check opening hours for your local store, visit groceries.morrisons.com

WAITROSE

Waitrose currently have a measures in place for the elderly, the vulnerable and those who look after them, with a prioritised shopping hour every day- first opening hour of the shop.

The shop’s opening hours remain the same.

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To check opening hours for your local store, visit: waitrose.com/

LIDL

Lidl is opening an hour earlier than usual in order to let elderly customers do their shopping. To check the opening times of your local Lidl, visit: lidl.co.uk/about-us/store-finder-opening-hours

SAINSBURY’S

In a letter last week to customers, Sainsbury's CEO said: “You will have seen that we put restrictions in place this week to ensure that more products are on shelf for longer.

“From Monday 23rd March, we are consolidating our opening hours and all our supermarkets will be open from 8am to 8pm, Monday-Saturday, including those with an Argos store. Sunday opening, Sainsbury’s Local and petrol station opening times will stay the same.”

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Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, all of the chain’s supermarkets will dedicate the hour of 8am - 9am to serving elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers.

NHS ID holders have priority Monday to Saturday, from 7.30am to 8am.

To find the opening hours for your local store, visit stores.sainsburys.co.uk

ASDA

On a temporary basis, Asda has revealed that it is closing its 24 hour stores between 12am and 6am.

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The supermarket will also be prioritising NHS workers in larger stores every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 9am.

Asda has no dedicated hours set for the elderly and vulnerable as yet.

To check your local store’s opening hours, visit: storelocator.asda.com

ALDI

Aldin will be open between 8am and 8pm from Monday to Saturday.

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Sunday opening hours at the German supermarket chain remain the same - 10am to 4pm (or 6pm in Scotland).

Aldi has opted to give priority access to emergency workers at any time of the day.

That means that as people queue to access a store (due to social distancing rules meaning that fewer customers are allowed in at once) NHS staff and 999 workers will be able to come to the front.

Aldi is not providing elderly hours, but said it was working with Neighbourly and Age UK to support older customers.

To check your local store, visit: aldi.co.uk

ICELAND

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Iceland said it would be opening its supermarkets early for elderly customers to visit before stores open to the public.

Each day, elderly shoppers can now visit between 8am - 9am to get their shopping first.

The final hour of trading Monday to Saturday will also be for NHS staff only.

Visit iceland.co.uk to check your local store’s opening times.

CO-OP

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Co-op is offering priority shopping to the vulnerable and those who care for them from Monday to Saturday 8am - 9am and Sunday 10am – 11am.

To check opening hours for your local store, visit: finder.coop.co.uk/food

MARKS AND SPENCER

M&S has dedicated the first hour of every Tuesday and Friday morning to NHS and emergency service workers.

To check opening hours for your local store, visit: marksandspencer.com/

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