Aldi, Tesco, Asda and Lidl’s new queue jumping policies
AS we head into the third month of lockdown supermarkets are coming up with new ways to manage queues outside of stores.
Queues have become the norm given shops are limiting numbers inside in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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But what are the major supermarkets current policies? From how you can skip to the front of the queue and what's changing. We round-up everything you need to know.
Lidl
Security guards or Lidl workers will be placed at store entrances during busy times of the day to keep track of how many shoppers are entering.
But Lidl says if there is a queue at the entrance and you have difficulty queuing, you can make yourself known to the security guard or member of the team at the front who will give you priority entry.
Website reports that Lidl stores in Poland are currently trialling a click and collect scheme where you can order your shop online and select a time to pick it up in stores.
But here in the UK you can't buy anything online at Lidl at present.
We've asked Lidl if it has any special measures in place for bad weather.
Aldi
Aldi is continuing to encourage shoppers to limit the number of people per household who visit, while it will also limits numbers in stores.
Staff have been managing the number of shoppers in stores until now based on the size of individual stores, but Aldi has begun rolling out a traffic light system at entrances to all UK stores.
When the traffic light signals green it meaning shoppers can enter, while if the light is red, the doors will be closed and you'll have to wait outside the store until a shopper leaves.
The Sun has asked Aldi if it has any special measures in place during bad weather or for vulnerable shoppers and we'll update this story as soon as we get a response.
Asda
Asda is limiting customers in stores to one adult per trolley and staff will also limit overall shoppers where necessary, which may lead to queues outside.
The supermarket doesn't, however, have specific policies in place for bad weather or for vulnerable shoppers.
Asda has, however, confirmed it is trialling a virtual queuing system at its Middleton store near Leeds.
It allows shoppers to login to a virtual queue with their phones. They then wait in their cars and are alerted when they can enter the store.
Morrisons
Morrisons has introduced "Speedy Shopping" lanes outside stores that sees customers split into basket shoppers and trolley shoppers, dubbed "Big Shops".
Three Speedy Shopping customers will be invited in for every trolley shopper.
Signs will be on display and Morrisons workers will be there to help customers choose a Speedy Shopping or Big Shop queue.
Speedy customers will pick up a shopping basket at the entrance while those on a Big Shop pick up a trolley.
We've asked Morrisons if it has any special measures in place for vulnerable shoppers and in extreme weather if queues do develop outside.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's says only one adult per household should shop at any one time if possible in a bid to reduce queues.
But as it's also limited the number of people in stores it has put in place a queuing system outside to ensure people keep at least 2m apart.
Vulnerable shoppers can make themselves known to staff at shop doors who will try to accommodate them on a store-by-store basis.
In bad weather, Sainsbury's says staff may hand out umbrellas to keep shoppers dry if they've forgotten their own.
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Tesco
Tesco has also limited the number of people in store at any one time, which can mean queues at busy times.
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It says individual stores may have queuing systems in place to help customers shelter from extreme weather, but in general it advises customers to come prepared - with bottles of water when it is warm and umbrellas if rain is forecast, for example.
Vulnerable and elderly customers can, however, come to the front of the queue at any time and identify themselves to Tesco staff who will give them priority access.