T-shirt worn by Iceland supermarket staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

T-shirt worn by staff working in supermarket chain Iceland's home deliveries and packing departments during the COVID-19 pandemic with "We heart NHS" and a rainbow, 2020

Food supplies and the experience of shopping in supermarkets was markedly altered by the pandemic. Shortages, restricted buying options, panic buying, changes to opening hours, priority for older and those at higher risk of COVID 19 and key workers were all common as supermarkets adapted to national lockdowns and social distancing measures. Online shopping demand increased as did the demand for frozen food. Supermarket Iceland saw an increase of 22% from March to September 2020, with jobs quadrupling to supply demand. By autumn 2020, 750,000 orders a week were delivered with workers picking around 70 orders a day each. The service operated 24 hours a day.

All staff were issued with this t shirt with a rainbow and “we heart NHS” drawing on the imagery which spread during the first national lockdown and showing appreciation for key workers.