
In the last few days, I have received many emails from constituents about the difficulties they have had in buying the food they need. I want to thank those who took the time to get in touch and assure you that I am in communication with local supermarkets, raising your concerns and working towards solutions.
In the meantime, I have pulled together information from many of the main supermarkets about their response to the COVID19 outbreak, including set-aside hours for the vulnerable and NHS workers, product restrictions and new opening times. You can find the table below.
I know many of you have been unable to book online delivery slots, which is particularly worrying for those who are self-isolating. If you are vulnerable, Sainsbury’s are introducing a scheme to reserve delivery slots for you – you can find out more information here or by calling 0800 328 1700, and register as vulnerable here which will place you on the supermarket’s priority list. Please pass on this information to any vulnerable people you know who may not have access to the internet.
Vulnerable people include:
- Organ transplant recipients
- People with certain cancers
- People with severe respiratory conditions
- People on immunosuppression therapies
- People with diseases that significantly increase the risk of infection s
- Pregnant women with significant heart disease
The NHS is directly contacting people with these conditions to provide further advice. Those in these group will get a phone number to ring if they need support accessing food or medicine.
If you think you fall into one of the categories of extremely vulnerable people listed above and you have not received a letter by Sunday 29 March or been contacted by your GP, you should discuss your concerns with your GP or hospital clinician.
I hope that the information about supermarkets below is useful, and that you and your families are all keeping well at this difficult time. As ever, please do get in touch with me at barry.sheerman.mp@parliament.uk if you need any assistance over the coming days and weeks. Together, we will weather this.
Weekday opening hours | NHS workers slot? | Vulnerable & elderly people slot? | Product restrictions | Online delivery | More info | |
Aldi | 8am-8pm – find your local | Sun 9.30-10am | / | 4 of any one item | Yes | Here |
Asda | 24hr stores closed between 12am and 6am – find your local | Mon, Wed, Fri 8-9am | / | 3 of any one item | Yes | Here |
Coop | Most open 7am-8pm – find your local | Mon-Sat 8-9am; Sun 10-11am | Mon-Sat 8-9am; Sun 10-11am | 2 of in-demand items | Yes – max 20 products | Here |
Lidl | Mostly unchanged – find your local | / | / | 4 of in-demand items | No | Here |
Morrisons | Mostly unchanged – find your local | Mon – Sat, 7-8am | Mon – Sat, 9-10am | Cleaning products restricted | Yes (app is down; use website) | Here |
Sainsbury’s | 8am – 8pm – find your local | Every day 7.30-8am | Mon, Wed, Fri 8-9am | 3 of any one item (2 of in-demand items) | Yes (priority slots for vulnerable customers, see here) | Here |
Tesco | 6am – 10pm for large stores- find your local | One hour before usual opening time on Sunday | Mon, Wed, Fri 9-10am | 3 of any one item (2 of in-demand items) | Yes | Here |
Waitrose | Varies by store – find your local | Hard to find product set aside; priority checkout | First hour of opening in each store | 3 of groceries; 2 of toilet roll | Yes | Here |