The first hour of opening at Sainsbury's in Ottery St Mary tomorrow (Thurs) will be exclusively for elderly and vulnerable shoppers.

Chief Executive Mike Coupe has authorised the dedicated hour across all of the company's stores in response to customer comments in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to customers he says: "A number of you suggested that we reserve an hour in stores for elderly and vulnerable customers.

"In response to this request, we will set aside the first hour in every supermarket this Thursday, 19th March, for elderly and vulnerable customers.

"If you or an elderly family member, friend or neighbour would like to shop during this hour, please check online for your local supermarket opening hours.

"For all other customers, supermarkets will open one hour after the published opening time.

"I hope that you can respect this decision and will work with us as we try our best to help those that need it the most."

In addition, the company is helping elderly and vulnerable customers access food online.

"From Monday, 23rd March, our online customers who are over 70 years of age or have a disability will have priority access to online delivery slots.

"For any online customer who can travel to our stores, from Monday 23rd March, we will operate an expanded 'click and collect' service.

"Please let us know if you are self-isolating to help us provide this service for you too."

Mr Coupe says the company is also focusing efforts on 'getting as much food and other essential items from our suppliers, into our warehouses and onto shelves'.

But he is asking for shoppers to exercise restraint.

"We still have enough food for everyone – if we all just buy what we need for us and our families.

"To help us get more essential items onto the shelves, from this Thursday, 19th March, we will be closing our cafes and our meat, fish and pizza counters in supermarkets.

"This means we can free up warehouse and lorry capacity for products that customers really need.

"It will also free up time for our store colleagues to focus on keeping the shelves as well stocked as possible.

"Following feedback from our customers and from our store colleagues, we have decided to put restrictions on a larger number of products.

"From today, 18th March, customers will be able to buy a maximum of three of any grocery product and a maximum of two on the most popular products including toilet paper, soap and UHT milk.

"We have enough food coming into the system, but are limiting sales so that it stays on shelves for longer and can be bought by a larger numbers of customers."

Mr Coupe concludes by paying tribute to hard-working Sainsbury's staff across the business.

"If you're able to say thank you to them when you see them, I know they would hugely appreciate it," he adds.

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