Sainsbury’s limits shopping to one adult per household - but lifts restrictions on Easter Eggs

The supermarket giant says groups of adults will be told to wait while one of them completes their shopping

Sainsbury’s told its customers this morning that its staff will only allow one adult per household to shop in its stores.

The announcement comes as the supermarket chain updated its social distancing measures, and reported that stock levels were continuing to improve.

Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe told shoppers that from today, “we are asking everyone to please only send one adult per household to our shops.

Sainsbury's has lifted restrictions on some items.

“This helps us keep people a safe distance apart and also helps to reduce queues to get into stores.

“Our store teams will be asking groups with more than one adult to choose one adult to shop and will ask other adults to wait.

Children are allowed to accompany an adult if they are not able to stay at home.

What other guidelines are in place?

Shoppers in Sainsbury’s are currently required to queue two metres apart from one another, and have been asked to keep a safe distance while using the aisles too.

Coupe said its stores had places clear markings on the floor to help customers stick to social distancing guidelines.

He said screens would be installed at manned checkouts at all Sainsbury’s stores by the end of the week.

Limits being lifted

Sainsbury’s reported stronger stock levels in recent days, as shoppers buy only what they need from stores.

Customers are increasingly finding they can find items on shelves at all times of the day.

Coupe said “I am pleased to tell you that we will start to remove limits from Sunday,” but confirmed that UHT milk, pasta, and tinned tomatoes would still be restricted.

Easter eggs will no longer be limited from Sunday, as stocks of them at the supermarket remained strong in store and online.

Increases in delivery slots

Sainsbury’s will still prioritise elderly and vulnerable shoppers when allocating online delivery slots, and said the measure had helped 450,000 people in at-risk groups get their shopping.

Coupe said the company was massively expanding its delivery service, and would offer 600,000 home delivery and click and collect slots by the end of next week.