Melton budget retail store to reopen tomorrow

Restrictions will be in place at QD, on Scalford Road, in a bid to keep customers and staff safe from contracting Covid-19.

The store is currently putting in measures to ensure strict social distancing, allowing customers to circulate safely.

QD, which sells a wide range of food, pet and convenience items, as well as homewares, household and garden items, is classed as an essential retailer, and has been monitoring when it would be appropriate to allow customers to return.

It temporarily closed its doors at the end of March and donated perishable goods to the Mesopotamia charity shop in Hyson Green.

Katie Scuse, manager of the Melton store, said: “All of the team here at QD are very excited to be back and serving our customers again.

“We are ensuring our shelves are fully stocked and looking forward to being able to supply all our customers’ needs.

“However, for the safety of our customers and staff, we do ask you to bear with us if you have to queue, and obey the social distancing procedures we have in place, as we are limiting the number of customers in the shop at any one time.

“We are providing cleaning stations for our trolleys, encouraging contactless or card payments and asking customers to shop alone if at all possible.”

QD has created a designated queuing area outside the entrance.

Markers are being placed at two-metre intervals to help customers respect each other’s personal space. 

The store also has two-metre floor markers inside and all checkouts are provided with protective plastic screens.

The Café Smile will remain closed at this stage.

QD group operations director, Karl Ottolangui, said: “We are delighted to be able to reopen tomorrow and welcome our customers back.

“This is part of a trial re-opening of some of our larger stores, ahead of any re-opening of other outlets across the country.

“Regardless of QD being classified as an essential retailer, we closed at the end of March for the wellbeing of our staff and customers and have been considering when it would appropriate and safe to re-open.

“We have been carefully studying how other essential retailers have handled social distancing to allow them to reopen while keeping staff and customers safe.

“As a result, we have put in place measures that follow best practice and the advice of the government and the British Retail Consortium.

“This does mean that we must strictly limit how many customers can be in the store at any one time, so customers may need to queue before coming in.”