Woolworths has expanded its popular Quiet Hour program, now offering the low-sensory shopping experience five days a week. Designed to help reduce anxiety and sensory overload for customers with specific needs, Quiet Hour provides a calmer shopping environment.

During this hour, typically held Monday through Friday from 10:30am – 11:30am, participating Woolworths stores will make a series of adjustments. These include dimming the store lights, lowering or turning off music, muting the register beeps, and switching off oven buzzers.

First launched in 2019 with one weekly session, Quiet Hour was developed in collaboration with disability service provider Life Without Barriers. It quickly gained traction, and the initiative has now expanded to over 900 stores across Australia. The move aims to provide a more comfortable, stress-free shopping experience and enhance the independence of customers who may find regular store environments overwhelming.

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Quiet Hour runs from 10:30am – 11:30am every Monday to Friday in most stores nationally. During this hour, temporary changes are made to the store, including:

• Turning off bakery ovens or chicken cooker buzzers
• Reducing volume on store phones and registers on the trading floor
• Clearing store entryways
• Reducing lighting and in-store music 
• Removing roll cages from the shop floor and;
• Stopping all PA announcements (excluding cases of emergencies)

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