Dark green Waitrose floor sticker reading ‘In the queue? Next time, pre-book your shopping slot at waitrose.com/prebookfinchley and come straight in. Subject to availability’ from Waitrose & Partners, Finchley and of the type used in Waitrose shops during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020

With high demand and limited supplies, supermarkets and their staff were under huge pressure with growing numbers of people entering their stores. Customers were encouraged to avoid queuing outside by pre-booking their slot. If there was a queue customers were invited to scan a QR code or text an SMS code with their mobile device, to join a virtual queue. Those without access were assisted by store staff.