Portugal’s Continente Tests Inclusive Store Concept

The Continente Modelo Leça do Balio store in Matosinhos has been adapted so that people with disabilities, particularly those on the autistic spectrum, can make purchases with autonomy and greater peace of mind.

The store offers several features, including sound mufflers for adults and children; sensory plants at the entrance; a comfort room; adapted checkout boxes; specialised shopping carts; and assisted purchasing.

The store staff has also received autism spectrum training to provide a more personalised and empathetic service.

This initiative is part of the diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy of Continente parent MC, part of the Sonae group, which addresses five dimensions, including disabilities, and which aims to promote an increasingly inclusive culture.

In 2022, Italian regional cooperative Unicoop Firenze opened a new Coop.Fi supermarket in Florence, a similar autism-friendly store concept.

Firenzében.

ESM