Sainsbury's Peterborough will become the second UK supermarket to use Braille signage to improve the independence of its blind and partially sighted customers. The product signage will have a Braille panel at the bottom to help customers find different sections in aisles.
The signage will be unveiled at the Peterborough store, situated on Oxney Road, on Wednesday 15th August at 10am. This follows the introduction of Braille signage at Sainsbury's Woolton store in Liverpool in September last year. The idea came about following a request to Justin King from Woolton Store Manger Bethan Wilson to provide a better service for blind and partially sighted customers in the local area.
Assistance
Clare Ellis, Sainsbury's Customer Experience Manager who looks after disability for the retailer, contacted the UK's leading sight loss charity RNIB for assistance with the design of signage to ensure blind or partially-sighted customers would really benefit.
Clare said: "Our extensive research has helped us to create signage which we know will make it easier for the store's blind and partially sighted customers. We want to deliver a great customer experience to all customers and offer a more inclusive environment to the local community."
Improvement
Rob King, from RNIB's Business Development Team, said: "We've worked closely with the store on this project and we'd like to thank colleagues at Sainsbury's Peterborough for their commitment and dedication in supporting blind and partially sighted people in their community. We know this will help improve the shopping experience for them and we're looking forward to working with Sainsbury's on other projects which will help to improve the lives of people with sight loss."
Ahead of the launch, which will also be attended by members from the store's new Local Charity Partner Guide Dogs for the Blind, Sainsbury's Peterborough Store Manager Terry Eastcott said: "This is going to have a massive impact with our customers who have sight loss. We take great measures to ensure our customers receive a high level of service when they shop with us, whether they're able-bodied or disabled. Thanks to Clare and the RNIB, we're now really looking forward to launching this unique initiative."
Paralympics
Sainsbury's is one of the main sponsors of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which take place from August 29 to September 9 and Peterborough store colleagues are helping to raise the profile of the event. This includes Sam Carter, who will be one of 45 Sainsbury's colleague Torch Bearers taking part in the Paralympic Torch Relay. The 24 hour relay from Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury, the home of the Paralympic Movement, to the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, takes place between August 28 and 29.
Meanwhile Tom Joyce will get to see the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games at the Olympic Park after he was one of the winners of the retailer's 'Who Do You Love' competition. The competition took place between February 14 and April 20 and gave Sainsbury's colleagues the chance to nominate a colleague they felt delivered great service in their role.
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Notes to editors:
The Sainsbury's Peterborough store address is: Oxney Road, Peterborough, PE1 5NG
PE1 5NG
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