Tesco is trialling a six-month pilot partnership with Be My Eyes to enhance in-store accessibility for blind or partially sighted customers.

Be My Eyes users will be able to connect directly with Tesco store staff via the app to receive personalised visual assistance while shopping, with the retailer reporting that it is the first major European supermarket to offer on-demand support for customers with sight loss.

Coinciding with World Sight Day (9 October), Tesco also launched a new accessibility feature on all its self-service checkouts. This allows customers to adjust the colour contrast and text size to suit their needs by tapping the accessibility button to switch to high-contrast mode or enlarge the text for easier reading.

Russell Price, Chair of Disability Network at Tesco, said: “Everyone is welcome at Tesco, and with Be My Eyes, we can help support visually impaired customers by connecting them with a Tesco colleague for live, in-store support using a simple video call.”

Tesco says these new initiatives demonstrate how technology can enhance the shopping experience, marking an important step towards building a more inclusive retail environment.

“Our mission at Be My Eyes has always been to make the world more accessible for people who are blind or partially sighted. By joining forces with Tesco, we’re making everyday shopping not just more convenient, but more inclusive for thousands of people in the UK who deserve equal access to essential services,” commented Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes.