Tesco has announced a number of major changes in stores across the UK as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues.
Jason Tarry – CEO of Tesco – formally revealed the changes in an email to shoppers.
The supermarket chain stated that these new measures are “in line with current government guidance” and also confirmed that it has made sure that the safety measures introduced at the start of the pandemic remain in place going forward.
The updated changes are said to be “to help protect our customers and colleagues” and “ensure that everyone can get the food they need in a safe environment.”
Speaking on the changes, Jason Tarry said: “Wecontinue to prioritise making our stores as safe as we can, and we are continually looking at new ways to do so, as well as monitoring government guidance to make sure we respond to any changes straightaway.”
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So, what can you expect from your next trip to Tesco then? What do you need to be aware of?
Here’s all the major changes you need to know.
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Opening Hours
Tesco has confirmed it will be extended opening hours in many of its branches to help safely manage the flow of people in and out of stores for the benefit of customers and staff.
The majority of stores however will remain closed overnight.
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To find the latest opening hours for your local branch, you can use the Tesco store locater here.
New ‘Traffic Light’ System
Several months after Aldi rolled out its ‘red and green’ traffic light system, Tesco has announced it will be doing the same in larger stores.
Customers can expect to see this take effect “over the coming weeks”.
The supermarket chain also confirmed that larger stores will now have staff based at the entrances to help everyone follow the safety measures and answer any questions that shoppers have.
Jason Tarry stated in the email to shoppers: “When you visit our stores, please follow the legal guidance on wearing a face covering. If you forget to bring one, we have packs available to buy at the front of our stores, which you can open immediately and pay for with your shopping later.
“As a reminder, the police are able to issue fines for not wearing a face covering, unless you are exempt.”
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Hand Sanitiser and Cleaning Stations
Hand sanitiser and cleaning stations will remain available to use around all stores.
Tesco also confirmed that it will continue to have social distancing guidelines and signage in place at clear and visible points around every store.
No Need to ‘Panic Buy’
Tesco has issued a statement of reassurance for shoppers with regards to stock availability.
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Jason Tarry said: “We have good stock levels, so please shop as you normally would so that everyone is able to get what they need [and] we may apply buying limits to some essential products to help with that too.
“Since the start of the pandemic, we have more than doubled the number of home delivery and Click+Collect slots to 1.5 million each week [and] this is to help anyone who is unable to shop in-store – especially our most vulnerable customers – to access our online service.
“Last week, we delivered more orders than ever before, and we will continue to increase the number of online slots available [but] there is still high demand for our online service,
“We would encourage people who are able to shop in-store to do so.”
On the topic of ‘panic buying’, Andrew Opie – Director of Food & Sustainability at The British Retail Consortium – added: “Retailers have done an excellent job in ensuring customers have access to food and necessities throughout this pandemic.
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“Since March, retail businesses have strengthened their supply chains, as well as investing hundreds of millions to make stores safe and secure for customers [and] this includes perspex screens, social distancing measures and additional hygiene measures [so] as such, retail remains a safe space for consumers, even under future lockdowns.
“Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under a future lockdown.
“Nonetheless, we urge consumers to be considerate of others and shop as they normally would.”
Trending
Frankfurt forward sparks Man United transfer rumours after naming favourite childhood club
Danny Jones
French forward Hugo Ekitiké who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, has set the transfer rumour mill churning after revealing that he was a boyhood Manchester United fan.
Ekitiké may currently be lighting up the German league but many fans, both United and otherwise, now believe the youngster has given the club a strong signal to ‘come and get me’ in a recent interview with his current employers.
Speaking via Frankfurt’s own media channels, the 22-year-old striker was asked who his favourite football team was growing up in a series of quickfire questions.
He didn’t hesitate:
🚨 Hugo Ekitike when asked which team was his favourite club when he was little:
If this is, indeed, a bit of a wink and a nod in the Red Devils direction (he wouldn’t be the first nor the last), there might be reason to believe it could happen.
Born in Reims, not only is Ekitiké one of the most promising young players in the Bundesliga at present, but there are plenty of particulars that could see a courtship sparked with United – if it hasn’t already.
Apart from clearly being a Red from a young age, the Frankfurt prospect came through the ranks at his hometown club in 2019, the same year in which Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS Group acquired fellow Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.
Not only did he score 10 goals in his first 26 appearances for Reims but it didn’t take too long for PSG to snap him up before ultimately loaning him out to Frankfurt last year, who made the deal permanent back in April 2024. All this is to say that it’s likely that INEOS will have detailed scout reports on him already.
Since then, he’s gone on to net 19 goals and register eight assists across 38 appearances, including a baker’s dozen in the league and four goal contributions in three games during his side’s run to the round of 16 in the domestic cup.
You can see some of Hugo Ekitiké’s highlights below.
Following this revelation, some outlets are reporting that Man United, Arsenal and a number of other clubs have been put on ‘red alert’ in regards to tapping up Ekitiké ahead of the summer transfer window.
European football reporter and German transfer specialist Florian Plettenberg has said that he is among a handful of names that the United are “closely monitoring.”
It goes without saying that given Rúben Amorim‘s early struggles with getting his squad to not just score enough goals but create a steady stream of chances from game to game, the addition of another young striker to potentially build around whilst his other forwards are struggling to find form could be useful.
As for how much Ekitiké’s would be priced at, whoever does go in for him will no doubt have to pay quite an increase on the estimated £13.5million transfer fee Frankfurt signed him for.
Besides being an option for rotation – especially as Joshua Zirkzee seems to have moved into an attacking midfield role and Rasmus Højlund has only found the net once in his last 21 games – he’s already been praised for his dynamism, even if he’s still somewhat raw.
For what it’s worth, we’ve already seen how well a former Frankfurt teammate of his has settled into life in English football over on the blue half of Manchester in the form of Omar Marmoush, and the Bundesliga’s similarity to the Premier League in terms of physicality is well documented.
Oh yeah, and a meaningless coincidence it may well be, but he’s already used to wearing red, white and black – just saying…
Featured Images — Eintracht Frankfurt/Bundesliga (screenshots via YouTube)
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Section of the 2025 Manchester Marathon to be named after Jamie Laing following ultra fundraiser
Danny Jones
Comic Relief has a new hero and after his ultra-distance and ultra-hard fundraising feats, Jamie Laing looks set to have part of the 2025 Manchester Marathon named after him.
He’s come a long way from the days of McVitie’s fortune and Made in Chelsea moments.
The English TV personality turned presenter, podcaster and businessman embarked on an unbelievable ultra marathon challenge earlier this week, setting himself the task of running a total of 150 miles for Comic Relief. With no training…
Making his way from London all the way to Manchester and in Salford Quays, specifically, where the BBC coverage team and thousands of spectators met him with rapturous applause, he completed the unbelievable distance and was in tears at the finish. Here’s the moment he did it:
Full of emotion after not only having smashed the five ultra marathons in five days – who had never run anywhere near this distance before in his life – but after raising nearly £3 million for the cause and counting, there were hugs and plenty of tears all-round.
Laing described the experience as “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life” and said that a big part of the journey was battling through and drawing attention to the issues surrounding mental health, admitting: “I have suffered, and I do suffer, and that’s OK.”
Now, while we don’t have that power at present, we’ll have to settle for the next best thing, which comes courtesy of the Adidas Manchester Marathon.
With Laing having officially completed his consecutive ultra marathon challenge, the organisers are now preparing to name a section of this year’s route through Greater Manchester in his honour.
Come on, how cool is that?
The moment Jamie Laing ran 150 miles and cemented himself in Comic Relief and Manchester Marathon history (Credit: The Manc Group)
While the exact details are still yet to be confirmed, Mancs taking on the biggest run of the year will run through ‘Laing Lane’ or ‘Jamie’s Junction’ when the Marathon rolls around on Sunday, 27 April.
The event team are still waiting to verify which portion of the 2025 route the 36-year-old, having passed through the likes of Stockport, Chorlton and other areas on his way to 0161, but there’s no question about what needs to happen – it’s just the name we need to settle on.
Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) UK, the country’s leading mass participation events company, said of the achievement: “Jamie’s challenge is nothing short of heroic – five ultramarathons in five days is no easy feat!
“Not only has he crossed the finish line, but he’s also raised an incredible £2.7 million for Comic Relief. If he did pass through our 2025 route, we’ll be proud to name that stretch after him – a lasting tribute to his endurance, energy, and impact.”
We’re just over a month away from the 2025 race, the fourth-largest in all of Europe, and with a couple of members of The Manc team taking it on again this year, we for one cannot wait.
A new finish line has already been announced for this year’s route and while we can’t tell you exactly which part of the Manchester Marathon will be named after Jamie Laing just yet, we promise to give it an extra pump when we pass through wherever it is.
It’s also worth reminding that you can still donate to his incredible Red Nose Day fundraiser right HERE.
Greater Manchester’s running culture continues to flourish with more clubs, events and representation than ever. You love to see it.
The Manc -
5th October 2020 
