26th August 2025

• Many children with additional needs find supermarkets challenging – the bright lights, beeping machines, loud music and crowded spaces can all lead to sensory overwhelm. We’ve looked at the websites of all major supermarkets to find out what they are doing to make the shopping experience a bit easier for customers who struggle with sensory overload.

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  Quiet hours

  Many supermarkets across the UK now offer quiet hours by turning off background music, dimming the lights and lowering the volume of checkouts and other devices. The following hours apply nationwide:

  Tesco: 9–10am every Wednesday and Saturday. Some adjustments, such as dimmed lights, only apply at large stores.

  Asda: 2–3pm Monday to Thursday

  Morrisons: 9–10am on Saturdays, first hour of trade on Sundays, and 2-3pm Monday to Thursday

  Lidl: 6-8pm on Tuesdays. They also offer priority queueing and additional assistance during that time.

  Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Waitrose and the Co-op do not currently have nationwide quiet hours.

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  Sunflower scheme

  All of the major supermarkets participate in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme. This scheme uses a sunflower symbol, usually a lanyard, to discreetly indicate that the wearer has a hidden disability and may need extra time, patience, or assistance. Some supermarkets also offer free sunflower lanyards to customers.

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  Support boxes

  Tesco offer support boxes containing ear defenders, communication cards, sunglasses and fidget toys, which are available to borrow from Customer Services or Tesco Mobile desks.

  Morrisons have also introduced sensory support boxes with drawing boards, fidget toys etc., which you can borrow from the customer service kiosk.