# Low-Noise Grocery Shopping Experiences Aldi is Trialling Sensory-Friendly Shopping Hours in the UK By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2023-08-05 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sensoryfriendly-shopping-hours References: [talkingretail](https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/aldi-trials-sensory-friendly-shopping-hours-04-08-2023/) & [aldi](https://www.aldi.co.uk)  Heading into a busy supermarket is often abound with ample noise and sounds that can be overwhelming for some shoppers, which is something the [Aldi](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-very-aldi-holiday) sensory-friendly shopping hours are intended to help with. The grocer will be trialling the initiative at nearly 100 stores in the UK beaten the hours of 6pm and 8:30pm, which will include quieter sounds at the checkout and an elimination of Tannoy announcements. Shoppers will be made aware of the quiet shopping experience thanks to signs throughout the stores. Diversity and Inclusion Director Vicky Metcalf commented on the Aldi sensory-friendly shopping hours saying, "Our new sensory-friendly shopping hours aim to help those who prefer a quieter shopping experience or struggle with noisy environments. We are committed to ensuring we are as [accessible and inclusive](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accessible-selfcheckout) as possible – both for shoppers and colleagues – and we look forward to receiving customer feedback on this trial to help inform our approach on a national level.” ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.9/10 - Popularity: 44% | Activity: 56% | Freshness: 17% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Sensory-friendly Shopping:** Aldi is trialling sensory-friendly shopping hours to provide a quieter and more inclusive shopping experience for customers. - **Quiet Checkout Experience:** Aldi is implementing quieter sounds at the checkout to create a low-noise grocery shopping environment. - **Elimination of Tannoy Announcements:** Aldi is removing Tannoy announcements during sensory-friendly shopping hours to reduce noise levels and provide a more peaceful shopping experience. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Supermarket:** The supermarket industry can explore implementing sensory-friendly shopping hours to appeal to customers who prefer a quieter and more inclusive shopping environment. - **Retail:** Retailers can adopt a quiet checkout experience to enhance the shopping experience for customers, especially those who find noise overwhelming. - **Customer Service:** The customer service industry can consider eliminating Tannoy announcements to improve the overall shopping experience and cater to customers who prefer a low-noise environment. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Grocery Store Quiet Hours](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quiet-hour-initiative.md) - [Quiet Shopping Hours](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quiet-shopping-hour.md) - [Neurodiverse-Inclusive Holiday Shopping](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/quiet-shopping-hours.md) - [Sensory-Friendly Retail Hours](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sensory-friendly-shopping.md) - [Sensory Accessibility Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lush-cosmetics-partners.md) - [Grocery Store Accessibility Models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfservice-checkouts.md) - [Sensory-Friendly Zoo Quiet Hours](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/columbus-zoo.md) - [Sensory Supermarket Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-very-aldi-holiday.md) - [Online Grocer Meal Planners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meal-planner-hub.md)