Coles allows emergency workers to join the exclusive ‘community shopping hour’

Coles allows emergency workers including nurses and police officers to join the exclusive ‘community shopping hour’ before stores officially open

  • Coles is allowing emergency service workers to shop at its ‘community hour’
  • The first hour of trade on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be for emergency services
  • It includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, ambulance staff, police and firefighters
  • They will need to show relevant identification or wear their uniform to the store 
  • Monday, Wednesday and Friday will continue to be for the vulnerable and elderly

Coles is allowing emergency service workers – including nurses and police officers – to shop during its dedicated ‘community hour’ amid coronavirus panic buying. 

It comes after the supermarket giant introduced an hour allowing the elderly and disabled to shop in its stores before they open to the public. 

The first hour of trade from 7am on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be for emergency services and healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, paramedics, hospital and ambulance staff, police and firefighters. 

Workers will need to show an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) card, have a workplace ID or are wear their work uniform to the store. 

A Coles spokeswoman said the offer, which starts this Thursday, aims to help Australia’s healthcare workers ‘who are essential to protecting the community during the COVID-19 crisis.’

Starting this Thursday, the first hour of trade on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be for emergency services and healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, paramedics, hospital and ambulance staff, police and firefighters

Monday, Wednesday and Friday Coles Community Hours will continue to be dedicated to vulnerable and elderly customers

Monday, Wednesday and Friday Coles Community Hours will continue to be dedicated to vulnerable and elderly customers 

Monday, Wednesday and Friday Coles Community Hours will continue to be dedicated to vulnerable and elderly customers.

Coles Group CEO Steven Cain said the move will help even more Australians access the essential groceries they need.

‘In the past week we have seen Community Hour help vulnerable and elderly Australians access essential grocery items during this challenging time,’ Mr Cain said in a statement.

‘We are now extending this opportunity to those Australians who are protecting our community and keeping us safe.

‘We know these workers are incredibly busy and hope that providing them with a dedicated hour at the beginning of the day to shop will make their lives a little easier and support the vital work they are doing every day.’ 

The move comes after less than two weeks after Coles and competitor Woolworths announced they will open their doors to vulnerable groups exclusively from 7am to 8am.

Panic buying in recent weeks sparked by the spread of coronavirus has seen stores stripped of essentials such as toilet paper, pasta and tinned and other dried food, and seen some shoppers embroiled in ugly confrontations over the limited stock.  

Last week Scott Morrison urged Australians to stop hoarding food and other essential supplies, as fights between anxious customers broke out at supermarkets around the country.

The Prime Minister said the panic-buying chaos sweeping grocery stores has been one of the ‘most disappointing things’ he has seen in ‘Australian behaviour’ in response to this crisis. 

The move comes after less than two weeks after Coles and competitor Woolworths announced they will open their doors to vulnerable groups exclusively from 7am to 8am

The move comes after less than two weeks after Coles and competitor Woolworths announced they will open their doors to vulnerable groups exclusively from 7am to 8am

Panic buying has resulted in  supermarkets left stripped of toilet paper, pasta, rice and frozen food, as well as tinned and other dried goods. Pictured: a frustrated man trying to buy toilet paper in a Melbourne Woolworths supermarket

Panic buying has resulted in  supermarkets left stripped of toilet paper, pasta, rice and frozen food, as well as tinned and other dried goods. Pictured: a frustrated man trying to buy toilet paper in a Melbourne Woolworths supermarket

‘Stop hoarding. I can’t be more blunt about it. Stop it,’ Mr Morrison said as he addressed the nation on Wednesday.

‘That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary. It is not something that people should be doing.’

Supermarkets have been forced to introduce buying limits on items due to the surge in demand for goods.

Coles customers are limited to buying just one pack of toilet paper and two packets of pasta, flour, rice, paper towels, hand sanitizer and other essentials.

Woolworths is also enforcing buying limits of one packet of toilet paper, baby wipes and rice per shopper.  

SUPERMARKET BUYING LIMITS 

 COLES

Two items per person 

Eggs 

Chilled pasta 

Frozen vegetables

Frozen dessert 

Mince includes Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken & Turkey 

Flour

Pasta 

Dried rice 

Paper towels/tissues 

Hand sanitisers 

Chilled milk

Sugar

UHT long-life milk

Canned tomatoes

Liquid soap

 One-pack limit

Toilet paper 

 

 

 

WOOLWORTHS 

One-pack limit per customer, per shop

Toilet paper

Baby wipes

Antibacterial wipes

Paper towel

Serviettes

Rice (2kg and over)  

No-limits 

Fresh Fruit & Veg

Meat (excluding mince)

Deli

Bakery

Seafood

Fresh Milk

Canned Fish

Drinks (ambient and chilled)

Baby Food

Yoghurts

Easter confectionery & merchandise

Wet Dog Food

Wet Cat Food

Two-pack limit per customer, per shop

Every other category

  

 

 

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