Why This Grocery Store Embraces a Slower Checkout

Waiting in line is an act that many often prefer to skip. In contrast to speedy lanes, some grocery chains are better serving their aging and single household populations by offering a lane where people can leisurely chat while slowly checking out their groceries. The trend started as “part of the Dutch government’s campaign to fight loneliness,” and is now embraced by supermarkets in other countries. One retailer said, “Slow checkouts for chatting can be a low-cost solution to better serve not only older shoppers, but anyone grappling with loneliness.” Many of the grocer’s cashiers enjoy working at the chat checkout, according to another spokesman. “They are very sympathetic towards the initiative and want to help people and really connect with them based on genuine interest. It’s a small but very valuable gesture, particularly in a world that is digitising and speeding up so fast.”

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