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Store accessibility

IGA has endeavoured to design stores that accommodate customers with physical limitations, and to provide tools for improved accessibility.
For certain customers with physical limitations, grocery shopping can represent a real challenge.
That’s why IGA has endeavoured in recent years to design their stores accordingly and provide tools to improve accessibility, better meeting the special needs of these shoppers. Here are some of the things IGA has been doing:

IGA.net

Creation of an online grocery shopping website in 1996 is a good example. This shopping method complements IGA’s telephone service which allows customers to shop for groceries without leaving home. When the site was redesigned in 1999, IGA was proud to announce that its website had been perfectly adapted for blind and visually impaired customers.

In store

Certain customers must overcome difficulties in store. During store expansions or new store construction, the IGA team is sure to respect and even surpass building code requirements in order to facilitate circulation in its stores.

Furthermore, IGA has recently surveyed equipment, places, and sites that might help or hinder customer circulation in store. The objective is to identify principal obstacles that might prevent customers from moving about freely, and implement any necessary changes. This information will be posted online each year to inform customers about improvements that have been carried out.


Employees

To ensure that IGA employees also play a role in improving accessibility for customers, an annual awareness campaign has been created. It serves as a reminder of what can be done to make a difference. Store owners are encouraged to discuss the topic with employees.

Rest assured that for IGA merchants, all customers are important. These initiatives are another way they like to prove it.

Results of a survey of 250 IGA stores (carried out in May 2014)

Response Average number of devices
Disabled parking spaces 97% 3,2
Automatic door at entry to vestibule 99%
Flat threshold 97%
Security barrier at store entrance 71%
Width of this barrier 48 inches
Automatic opening device 26%
Wheelchair available 70% 1.1
Shopping cart for customers in wheel chairs 48% 1.1
Two- or three-wheel electric scooter available 13% 1.1
Bistro 83%
Space for wheelchairs at tables 94%
Emergency exits 4.2

Note: There will be a store survey held each year.

Response Average number of devices
Sliding refrigerator doors (result is imprecise and not valid)
(result is imprecise and not valid)
Full-length handles 69%
Toilet for customers 93%
Toilet for disabled customers 88%
Pictogram identifying this toilet 78%
Mobile electronic payment device 86% 2.7
Sign for locating a mobile device 65%
Room at checkouts for customers in wheel chairs 98%
Online grocery order service 93%
Telephone grocery order service 78%
Grocery carry out service 88%
Home delivery service 90%