Central England Co-op, Morrisons give discount to NHS staff

Morrisons and Central England Co-operative separately announced a 10 percent discount to National Health Service (NHS) workers to support them through the coronavirus crisis.

Morrisons is the first of Britain's 'Big Four' to give a monetary discount to 1.5 million NHS workers, who have already been offered priority shopping hours by most supermarket chains.

Morrisons said the NHS discount will come into effect from Thursday and last until July 12, when it will be reviewed.

"This discount is our thank you to all those working in the National Health Service at this very difficult time," David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons said on Tuesday.

Central England Co-operative said it has been put in place a range of measures in its over 400 food stores and funeral homes across 16 counties to support local communities.

The society has employed extra 150 security guards in stores and its distribution network and recruited over 1,000 colleagues to help in stores. It has installed almost 1,000 kiosk and checkout screens and sourced tens of thousands of gloves and masks ready to use in stores and funeral homes.

The consumer co-operative is also working with councils in Lichfield and Stafford to launch pioneering schemes aimed at getting food to the most vulnerable. It has donated over 30,000 items to food bank partners as a result of an ongoing urgent food bank appeal.

“As a co-operative retailer, we want to make sure we are leading the way for our communities during this difficult time,” said Debbie Robinson, chief executive of Central England Co-op, in a statement.

“We hope that these measures and the work of our colleagues, members and customers show that we are coming together for our communities during this uncertain time and reacting to the challenges we face.”

(With Reuters input)