Tesco boss urges young to shop in-store so elderly can use overloaded online delivery service as Ocado chairman urges stockpilers ‘show restraint, nobody will starve’ amid coronavirus lockdown
- Tesco CEO Dave Lewis has written to customers about shopping during the crisis
- He has urged young and healthy people to shop in-store while social distancing
- He urged people to leave valuable delivery slots to the elderly and vulnerable
- Some stores have been forced to employ pub-style bouncers to keep order
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
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Tesco CEO Dave Lewis has urged his young and healthy customers to avoid shopping online to free up valuable delivery slots to the vulnerable and elderly.
Users of the retail giant’s online service have complained they are unable to secure a home delivery slot.
In his letter, he has asked those who can venture out to shop in-store – while taking appropriate precautions.
Tesco CEO Dave Lewis has urged people who are fit and healthy to continue to shop in-store while adhering to social distancing rules to allow the elderly and vulnerable to use home delivery slots
These shoppers waiting to access a Tesco supermarket in London are adhering strictly to social distancing rules. The retailer placed marks on the floor to show the six foot six distance people should stay apart to reduce the risk of spreading the virus
Some users have complained they cannot get a delivery slot before April 15
The retailer has created sanitisation stations at the entrance to its stores where shoppers can wipe down the handles of their trolleys or baskets with a virus-killing gel.
Mr Lewis admitted there have been problems with the online service because of the overwhelming demand.
He wrote: ‘We also need your help to change the way you shop with us.
‘Try to shop with no more than one other person, which will help to reduce the number of people in-store at any one time.
‘Please use our cleaning stations to wipe your trolley, basket…If possible, use card or contactless payments.
‘Please avoid shopping during our dedicated times for vulnerable and elderly people, and NHS workers, and be kind to our colleagues as they’re working hard to serve you.’
Mr Lewis confirmed that the online shopping system has been overwhelmed. He asked people who are fit and healthy to use stores in order to free-up delivery slots for online orders to the elderly and vulnerable.
These shoppers pictured this morning outside a Tesco supermarket in West London are queuing to get in while keeping a sufficient distance apart in order to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus
He said the retailer was at ‘full capacity’ and expected this situation to continue for the next couple of weeks.
He said the firm was looking to increase the number of delivery slots in an effort to satisfy demand.
Ocado chairman Lord Rose repeated calls for shoppers to show restraint.
‘There is a billion pounds more food in people’s larders than there was a couple of weeks ago – what are they doing with it? How much food do you need to eat? How much do you need to store away? Please show some restraint,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
‘There is no shortage of food … Nobody will starve.’
But he said it is important to ensure vulnerable people are given priority.