Supermarkets ‘to be told to cordon off aisles with non-essential goods during lockdown’

As part of the new national lockdown coming into effect from tomorrow, Thursday November 5th, supermarkets have reportedly been told to cordon off ‘non-essential’ items if they’re sold in separate departments.

According to The Grocer, the government has told retailers it won’t go as far as the Welsh ban, which has seen large sections of non-essential items cordoned off in supermarkets over recent weeks.

Supermarkets will be able to sell non-essential goods if they are located in ‘mixed aisles’, however the government has told retailers such items will be restricted when they are found in separate areas of the store, according to reports.

Gordon Joly / Flickr

Supermarket bosses have branded the move ‘confusing’, warning that it could lead to a backlash from the public like it did in Wales.

The ban would mean clothing departments in supermarkets – like Asda George, F&F in Tesco and the clothes sections in M&S – would have to be cordoned off from tomorrow.

A source involved in the talks told The Grocer: “The government has said that they are not going to force retailers to shut down all non-essential goods, like happened in Wales.

“However, those stores which have specific areas of so-called non-essential goods will have to cordon them off.

“They will not have to close off aisles where there is a mix.”

Michael Ely / Geograph

Retailers had tried to convince the government to hold off on plans to cordon off non-essential items, to avoid a situation like the one in Wales.

Ministers had wanted to avoid a distinction between essential and non-essential goods, but sources told The Grocer that since the lockdown plans were confirmed they had toughened their stance – following dire warnings from scientific advisers. 

It’s expected that further details on what goods will be impacted by this will be released in the next 24 hours.