By Mitchell Clarke
A Pakenham Woolworths is one of 10 stores across Victoria to significantly reduce their trading hours under a new initiative to support vulnerable people through Covid-19.
From Thursday 26 March, Lakeside South Woolworths will be open to the public from just 11am to 6pm.
The store has been identified as a ‘Priority Delivery Hub’, which will allow supermarket staff prioritise the delivery of groceries to the homes of vulnerable customers.
The hub stores will use the additional hours the stores are closed to customers to pick online orders, with a focus on meeting the increased demand from ‘priority assistance’ customers.
Woolworths Fountain Gate and Woolworths The Avenue in Cranbourne North have also been selected as priority stores, and will follow the same trading hours.
Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said Woolworths were focused on supporting the vulnerable during the challenging period.
“To help support getting basic food and essentials to those that need it most, our teams have been doing everything they can to scale up online and home deliveries to the elderly, people with disabilities or those in mandatory self-isolation,” Mr Banducci said.
“Following an extraordinary level of demand for groceries in recent weeks, reducing trading hours in a small number of our stores to turn them into ‘Priority Delivery Hubs’ will help us assist more people who can’t access a store to get products they need.”
The dedicated early morning shopping hour from 7.00am to 8.00am for the elderly and people with disability will continue at these stores until Friday 27 March.
Woolworths has also introduced a store greeter to wipe down baskets and trolleys and will close some registers within the self-serve and express checkouts to provide additional space between customers.
Customers will also be directed to a notice board for key social distancing information, trading hours and product limits.
“The measures we’ve introduced have been well received by our team and customers alike, and we’re grateful for the community support on this incredibly important public health effort,” Mr Banducci added.
Woolworths is yet to confirm how long the reduced trading hours will remain in place for.
To apply for priority assistance delivery, complete the form at woolworths.com.au/priorityassistance or call 1800 000 610 to find out more.
