Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo has found an unusual way to combat loneliness: special 'chat checkouts' where customers are not rushed and staff are ready to spend time on a simple conversation. This is reported by infohub.kz.
The project is called Kletskassa, which translates from Dutch as 'chat checkout'. It is primarily aimed at elderly people who sometimes lack simple human conversation.
At these checkouts, staff do not rush to serve the queue. Instead, they can calmly talk with customers, ask how they are doing, and engage in casual conversation.
The first 'chat checkout' appeared in a Jumbo supermarket back in 2019. The initiative received positive feedback, and the chain expanded the project. Today, about 200 such checkouts operate across the country.
Jumbo notes that for some visitors, a few minutes of conversation during grocery shopping can be the most important moment of the day. That is why the company decided to make communication as much a part of the service as the usual checkout experience.
Similar initiatives exist in Kazakhstan. In Almaty, Centers for Active Longevity for older people have been operating for a long time. There, pensioners can not only communicate with each other but also engage in sports, creativity, and learn computer literacy.