Morrisons_01

Source: Morrisons

  • The range of 47 essential items will include milk, eggs, potatoes, cornflakes and flour

  • Payment will be taken on the doorstep using a mobile chip and pin card machine

  • A Community Champion for each store will put postcards through the doors of those identified as needing support

 

Morrisons has launched a new telesales shopping service aimed at helping elderly and other vulnerable customers get groceries during the coronavirus lockdown.

Vulnerable customers will be able to order from a range of 47 essential groceries by phone, and have them delivered the next day. Payment will be taken on the doorstep using a mobile chip and pin card machine.

The rage includes milk, butter, eggs, potatoes, pasta, bananas, cornflakes and flour, delivered from the customer’s nearest branch by a store worker.

Morrisons announced last month it was creating a customer call centre to help those not used to shopping online. Today sees the launch of that service, with orders placed by phoning 0345 611 6111.

“We are playing our full part in feeding the nation and ensuring those that are most in need can receive a delivery from a familiar face at Morrisons,” said CEO David Potts. “This new telephone service will ensure that more people who can’t leave their home to go shopping will be able to get a delivery.”

Morrisons said eligible customers would be identified by each store’s ‘Community Champion’, a member of staff tasked with helping the community.

The Community Champions may already know some of their more vulnerable customers, while shoppers could suggest friends needing help, a spokeswoman said. Signs had been put in stores asking customers if they knew people in need of assistance.

The Community Champions would put postcards through the doors of those identified as needing support.

Morrisons said it was also aiming to help elderly and vulnerable people by expanding its home delivery service and making more slots available through Morrisons.com and Amazon Prime Now.

Its food box delivery service, launched in March and aimed at providing essentials, is expanding production from 10,000 to 100,000 a week.

Last week it also announced the expansion of an on-demand Deliveroo service to 130 stores.

The Grocer revealed last week that, after weeks of waiting, supermarkets had received a government list of hundreds of thousands of people deemed at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus, and lacking the support to buy groceries.

Sainsbury’s had set up a phone line in March for people to register as vulnerable but has now stopped the service and is using the shield list instead. The standard helpline is still available

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