WAITROSE’S energy-saving plan has been slammed after shoppers were left shivering in the dark.
Stores operate on a half-lighting basis for the first two hours of opening from Monday to Friday.
Aisle temperatures are reduced by 2C.
Customers have vowed to boycott, saying their shop was “dangerous”.
Francine Monks, of Beckenham, South East London, told Waitrose: “My 78-year-old frail husband had to sit at the other end of the shop because he felt so unwell in the cold.
“My hands were frozen! Please provide some heat.”
A customer in Horsham, West Sussex, added: “Won’t be going again any time soon. A company with a death wish?”
“Deborah” tweeted from a dark in-store cafe and said: “This energy saving policy is doing damage to your reputation and your cafe business.
“Don’t open the cafe and sell goods until 10am if you don’t switch the lights on till then.”
Others raised concerns for visually-impaired shoppers.
The chain warned in December that it faced a £18million energy cost overspend.
Replying to complaints on Twitter, a Waitrose rep said: “Reducing use allows us to play our part in progressing our Purpose Of A Happier World. We will continue to review the changes.”
Waitrose was contacted for comment.
