Coles has announced a range of measures being taken to support customers, team members and the community during the coronavirus outbreak.
New Community Hour and changes to trading hours
From 18 March, Coles Supermarket will launch a dedicated ‘Community Hour’ in all supermarkets to improve access to essential groceries for the elderly and disadvantaged, during this time of unprecedented demand.
Coles will temporarily change their trading hours to 7am to 8pm on weekdays, with the first hour* of trade open exclusively to customers who hold a government-issued Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Companion Card and Health Care Card.
Supermarkets will also close no later than 8pm to give team members the time and space to extensively clean stores and replenish shelves.
*Where trading hour restrictions apply, such as WA and parts of QLD, Community Hour will be held from 8am to 9am, with normal trade to commence thereafter.
Recruitment drive
Coles is recruiting more than 5000 casual team members to work in supermarkets across Australia.
This will also allow shelves to be replenished faster,and casuals will have their inductions fast-tracked.
Changes for Coles online
To dedicate vans to those in genuine need, especially the most vulnerable and those isolated, home delivery orders for other valued customers will be temporarily suspended.
To avoid inconvenience for Coles Online customers who have been picking up incomplete Click&Collect orders due to lower product availability in stores, Coles will temporarily no longer accept Click&Collect orders.
Coles has also temporarily cancelled its UberEats delivery service during this time.