UK Supermarket Morrisons to Remove Sweets From Checkout
21 Sep 2015 --- Morrisons is today announcing that it will remove sweets from its main-bank checkouts by February 2016 after listening to customers. The supermarket will replace the confectionery with a range of alternative snacks, including fruit, nuts and bottled water. Morrisons already offers alternatives to sweets at one in five of its supermarket checkouts.
* Putting queue management back into the hands of its store checkout teams rather than use an automated system.
* Re-introducing express checkouts for shoppers with fewer than 10 items.
* Replacing older self-service checkouts with more advanced and easier-to-use models.
To make sure the confectionery replaced with items that customers want to buy, Morrisons is running a trial at ten stores across the country, where checkouts will be stocked with the new snacks as well as magazines and bags for life.
David Potts, CEO at Morrisons, said: “We have been listening to parents and guardians who have told us that sweets on checkouts can sometimes lead to pestering from their children. This change will make the trip through the checkout easier and less stressful.”
Bryonie Hollaert, Company Nutritionist, at Morrisons said: “We are doing what we can to help customers choose healthier foods. As well as taking chocolate away from checkouts, we are also removing sugar and salt from other food and drink products. Last year alone we removed nearly one billion calories and over 38million teaspoons of sugar from our soft drinks.”
Jane Ellison MP, Public Health Minister, said: “It’s great that Morrisons has taken this positive step, which responds to a clear demand from their customers. Retailers have a major role to play in helping people make healthier choices.”
Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket retailer, removed sweets from all its checkouts on January 1st this year.
