Changing face of retail in Mayo with ‘click and collect’ facilities

THE changing face of retail, much of it driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, has been reflected in a number of planning applications that have come before Mayo County Council.

'Click and collect' has become a feature of many people's shopping trips and retailers Tesco have been investing in facilities at a number of their Mayo outlets to accommodate the move towards buying online and dropping by to collect your goods.

Sheltered canopies over existing parking spaces to provide dedicated 'click and collect' spaces have been approved by planners for supermarkets in Castlebar, Claremorris, Ballinrobe, Westport and Swinford.

The company said the service is in response to changing customer habits.

It already operates a number of such facilities across the country which allows customers to collect their shopping at a time that suits them and without the need to enter the store.

Demand has been increasing, but particularly over the last few months during the pandemic.

The company, in a submission to planners, said the facilities were needed from a health and safety perspective to meet the needs of customers and offer an alternative shopping facility.