TWO-ITEMS' RULE RELAXED ON MOST THINGS AND STAFF GET EXTRA WEEK'S PAY AS REWARD FOR 'GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND'

CO-OP stores in and around Atherstone are relaxing the majority of coronavirus-induced product restrictions in time for the weekend.

The town's biggest retailer says it is a "thank-you" for the hard work of colleagues and suppliers as well as customers and members only purchasing what they need when panic bulk-buying was rife in the days leading up to the outbreak of Covid-19.

The maximum two-per-customer rule is being lifted except on baby milk, hand wash, household cleaning products, tinned veg, fish and meat, pasta, flour and eggs.

In addition it has just announced an extra week's pay in the June salary packet plus double staff discount for the same month to frontline employes in its food stores, funeral homes and distribution hubs for "going above and beyond".

The retail giant, with more than 240 stores across 16 counties of the UK, has said it is ready to impose further restrictions if stock levels fall and demand rises.

But the Co-op message remains the same: Customers and members should support their communities by, when shopping for food and essentials, only buy what necessity dictates – to ensure there is enough for everyone.

Debbie Robinson, Central England Co-op chief executive, said: "We hope this will allow customers and members to fulfill their shopping needs, which may include multiple shops for others, in as few visits as possible, while maintaining availability for everyone.

"If our communities only buy what they need then there will be enough for all and restrictions will not have to return – by co-operating we can get through this uncertain time together."

This comes alongside a range of measures put in place to support communities shopping at Co-op stores. These have included:

• Implementing social distancing requirements across its entire family of businesses to keep colleagues and customers safe;
• Employing an extra 150 security guards in stores and its distribution network, giving almost 2,000 extra hours of support to keep people safe and ensure security measures are adhered to;
• Recruiting over 1,000 extra colleagues to help in stores, including support from across its other businesses in travel, floral and head office;
• Installing almost 1,000 kiosk and checkout screens; and
• Implementing the new £45 contactless limit.