CO-OP TO SELL LIMITED EDITION BAGS OF SWIZZLES PRODUCT TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE HEALTH SERVICE

RETAILER ANNOUNCES SUPPORT HOURS AFTER LAST #CLAPFORCARERS

IN MANY ways they were the symbol of an innocent love, conveying a message without embarrassment. Now those traditional Love Hearts sweets are being used to thank our frontline NHS heroes. On the day after the tenth, and last, #ClapForCarers evening was observed, a new way of showing your appreciation has been launched in the Co-ops in Atherstone and North Warwickshire. The town's biggest retailer is at the forefront of giving more support to health workers by selling limited edition Swizzles NHS Love Hearts. All profits from the sales of the bags will go directly to the National Health Service. The funds will be donated to a dedicated Intensive Care Unit research fund, and will contribute to the continued research into Covid-19. A Co-op spokesman said: "All of us here are so proud of the amazing work our front-line heroes in the NHS have been doing. "This is a great gesture by Swizzles and we hope people pick up a bag while out getting their food and essentials so a great cause like the NHS can benefit." Jeremy Dee, managing director at Swizzels, said: "In these unprecedented times, we wanted to show our appreciation and support for the outstanding work that the NHS is continuing to do across the country. "The Love Hearts message is focused on sharing the love and, at a time when this sentiment is more important than ever, we hope people will do this by purchasing a bag to show their support. "From all of us at Swizzels – thank you to every single person who works for the NHS." This comes as the Co-op is currently offering a 10 per cent discount for all NHS workers to say thank you for their efforts working on the frontline to help tackle coronavirus. All NHS workers have to do is show their ID card to receive the discount off all food and other essentials and to get priority access by moving to the front of any external queue when waiting to enter. In the Co-op's continuing campaign to protect the community, it is also offering customers the opportunity to accept or refuse a receipt with their purchases. This not only forms part of several new health and safety measures put in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but also helps support its ongoing efforts as a business to reduce its impact on the environment. The retailer has already rolled out a range of other measures in stores aimed at keeping customers and colleagues safe including social distancing, gloves and hand sanitiser, over 1,000 checkout screens, 7,000 face visors for colleagues and over 150 security guards to help with queues. Last month store managers in Atherstone joined nationwide pleas for people to "stay home unless absolutely necessary" and not be tempted by the Easter sunshine to break Covid-19 lockdown measures.

In the last week, the retail giant has brought back pre-coronavirus opening hours in its stores after "listening" to customers.

Shorter opening times at local Co-op stores were introduced in March to give staff more time to replenish shelves with food and essentials for the local community.

But it has now signalled a "return to normal", following feedback from members and shoppers who are becoming more accustomed to visiting stores during these uncertain times.

Now, with extensive social distancing measures in place across all stores, the Co-op is taking the opportunity to bring back 9pm finishes at the Station Street and Long Street shops.