The Altrincham and Timperley branches of Iceland are to restrict the first two hours of trading on Wednesdays to pensioners and vulnerable people, starting tomorrow.
The escalating coronavirus crisis has seen many retailers stripped of essential items as shoppers have stockpiled goods.
That has led to fears that the elderly, who are in the group most vulnerable to the symptoms of COVID-19, are struggling to find the food and other items that they need.
The Altrincham store of Iceland, on George Street, and its Stockport Road branch in Timperley, have both decided to reserve the first two hours of shopping to those of state pension age.
A customer notice on the window of the Altrincham store read: “On Wednesday morning, the first two hours of trading in this store are for the exclusive use to the elderly (those of state pension age) and vulnerable people in the community to complete their regular grocery shop.”
The Altrincham store will be open to just the elderly and vulnerable people between 9am and 11am on Wednesdays, with the Timperley store doing likewise between 10am and noon.
Iceland said it was not a company policy across all its stores, but was allowing individual stores to decide how best to meet the needs of shoppers in their local areas.
