Morrisons has launched a new NHS initiative, offering free flowers and discounts for those battling the coronavirus crisis on the front line.
The grocer has introduced an NHS club for healthcare workers, as well as a speedy new shopping system to help streamline its in-store services.
Once signed up, staff can redeem promotions and freebies, including free flowers as part of the chain's efforts to say 'thank you' for their hard work.
Morrisons already offers a dedicated NHS shopping hour, 10% discount and free hot drinks promise, however it's now opened up a new club for those working around the clock.
"To say thank you for all their amazing work, we offer a 10% discount, have a dedicated NHS shopping hour, offer a free hot drink, have our "More for NHS club" offering extra thank you discounts and freebies including free flowers when you sign up," the grocer said.
A statement on the Morrisons website added: "Join More for our NHS today.
"We at Morrisons want to say a heartfelt thank you to our very brave NHS key workers, so we have set up our More for our NHS club.
"Sign up today so we can stay in touch and keep offering you discounts, treats and much more."
The supermarket giant has also introduced a new 'Speedy Shopping' system to help customers who only need a couple of items.
This will include a new lane outside, with customers choosing from a Speedy Shopping or a Big Shop queue.
Inside the store, there will also be dedicated Speedy Shopper checkouts, including both tills operated by staff and self-service checkouts.
More self-scan checkouts will be turned into 'card only' as well, in an effort to increase the speed of payments.
David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons, said: “It’s fair that customers doing smaller shopping trips should queue for less time too. Speedy Shopping will ensure that Morrisons stores will be more convenient for customers wanting a small basket of items."
Last week, Morrisons announced plans to expand its click-and-collect services from a trial of just six stores to almost 280 by mid-June and plans to "significantly increase" the number of home delivery slots over the coming weeks..
The grocer, which introduced the first 'essentials' boxes, is now rolling out its Amazon collaboration nationwide to get more food to people's homes.
Changes in store
Protective screens introduced around the till area of almost 6,500 main bank checkouts in ten days, plus further screens introduced in front of checkouts, pharmacy counters and customer service desks
Social distancing measures at all Morrisons sites, including marshal-controlled entry and reconfigured customer flow at all our stores
Temporarily closed all our in-store cafés, food-to-go and service counters
Contactless in-store card payment limit lifted from £30 to £45
NHS workers' hour early in the morning, allowing queue-free access to Morrisons stores when our shelves are fully stocked
NHS workers' 10% Morrisons discount
Hand sanitiser, gloves, and masks available for all store staff
Increased cleaning and other health and safety initiatives at all our sites
Enhanced pay guarantees for sick, self-isolating and affected colleagues, plus greater flexibility around shifts and annual leave
A 6% 'thank you' guaranteed annual bonus for all frontline colleagues, up threefold on last year, and payable quarterly rather than at year end
Colleague in-store discount increased
A hardship fund to support colleagues in financial difficulty due to the crisis
Recruited over 25,000 new colleagues in stores, manufacturing, supply chain, and in online and home delivery as we significantly expand capacity
No staff furloughed
Immediate payment to all our c.3,000 small suppliers
A 5% Morrisons discount for our c.3,000 British farmer suppliers
£10m of food to be distributed by Morrisons Community Champions to help re-stock Britain's food banks
£500,000 of emergency funds being donated by the Morrisons Foundation to homeless charities to help them through the extra demands of the crisis
Chief executive David Potts said: "We are facing into the unprecedented current challenges and are playing our full part to help feed the nation: working with determination, creativity and pace to serve customers as well as we possibly can.
"The professionalism, enthusiasm and resourcefulness of our frontline key worker colleagues is extraordinary and is showing Morrisons at its very best.
"I'd like to thank every single colleague: you are Morrisons most important and most valued assets and are making a vital difference to so many people and communities across Britain."
