As the UK enters the third week of national lockdown, Tesco has unveiled its first dedicated NHS Nightingale Hospital pop-up store at the NEC in Birmingham. The company will provide NHS staff with on-site 24-hour access to the food and household products they need. Construction at the NEC started on Sunday, as the company aims to open the pop-up by the end of next week. Tesco is currently negotiating with other Nightingale sites the possibility of expanding the initiative.
Additionally, Tesco has increased its online delivery slots by 145,000 (+20%), and also started removing the purchasing limits on the majority of products available in-store, after announcing that its stock levels are now returning to normal. The retailer will also be introducing one-way aisles and a ‘one-in, one-out’ system in stores. It has already been maintaining longer opening hours to minimize potential queuing. The retailer revealed that has recruited 45,000 temporary staff to support its stores and distribution centres during COVID-19 crisis.
