Kroger and Walmart are testing one-way aisles to deal with coronavirus crowds

Two major U.S. grocery retailers are thinking about instituting one-way aisles to help people stay at a distance during the coronavirus pandemic.

What’s happening:

• Kroger has started testing one-way aisles at its stores in certain markets to help keep people away from each other. Kroger wants to see how effective such a move would be before instituting it full time.
• “The Kroger Family of Companies has started to test one-way aisles in select markets to determine its effectiveness as a measure to further support physical distancing,” the company said in a statement.
• Walmart and Hy-Vee made similar moves recently, according to Grocery Dive. Stores in Connecticut will institute one-way aisles during emergencies.
• There are reports of Albertsons/Safeway and QFC grocery stores adding one-way aisles, too.

Some context

• The move from Kroger comes as grocery stores across the country aim to rework their policies and change their hours to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
• For example, multiple grocery stores — from Walmart to Kroger to Costco — have changed their store hours to allow for senior hours, where elderly people can shop alone. Seniors are considered high at-risk patients for the coronavirus.