Coles 'Quiet Hour' initiative to be extended across 173 stores
Shoppers will be able to experience a low-sensory ‘quiet hour’ at more Coles supermarkets across the country from Tuesday.
Quiet hour was first trialled at two Victorian stores in August 2017, when Coles partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) in a bid to support people who have family members on the autism spectrum.
In November it was rolled out across 70 stores and from tomorrow there will be 173 stores nationwide participating in the initiative.
Quiet hour takes place each Tuesday from 10.30 to 11.30am in the selected Coles stores and creates a more relaxed shopping environment by promoting reduced lighting, noise and other distractions in store.
In particular Coles radio is switched off, there are no announcements over the PA system, register and scanner volume levels are reduced, there are no trolley collections during the hour and more team members will be available to support shoppers.
“We’ve listened to our customers, and our store teams have worked hard to make our stores more welcoming and responsive to the needs of the local communities in which we operate,” Coles Managing Director John Durkan said.
“We initially started with 70 Quiet Hour stores across the country, and now we’re thrilled to be more than doubling this figure to make Quiet Hour more accessible for our customers, and help make a difference to their shopping experience at Coles.”
Following the initial trial the mother of a nine-year-old boy with autism, who normally becomes overwhelmed by grocery shopping, said she was “fighting back tears” when ‘quiet hour’ meant they could complete the task successfully.
Emily Dive wrote an emotional post online in August last year, “Today was a milestone for us. We filled a trolley!!! No mad dash to get in and out as quickly as possible only grabbing a handful of items.”
Nicole Rogerson, CEO of Autism Awareness Australia, said it is a good initiative that will be helpful to many people on the spectrum who find supermarkets and shopping overwhelming.
“It’s a great first step but the ultimate goal is to provide them with the skills and support they need to be able to shop at any supermarket at a time of their choosing,” Ms Rogerson said in a statement.
“This is a much more inclusive practice that will provide greater independence for people with autism and their families.”
From Tuesday, 27 more stores in Queensland will offer the initiative. There will be 20 more in Western Australia and an additional 56 stores in New South Wales.
In the coming months more stores in Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, the Northern Territory, the ACT will have the initiative introduced.
