The two stores, along with five additional Coles stores in the state's North-West and South, rolled out Quiet Hour between 10.30am and 11.30am from March 5.

During Quiet Hour noise, lighting and other distractions are reduced to make shopping easier for customers who find it challenging to shop in a heightened sensory environment.

Quiet Hour came about after Victorian customer David Brinkley asked Coles to reduce noise at the Healesville store to make it easier for parents shopping with children on the autism spectrum.

Coles partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to research suitable changes to support customers with sensory challenges and the concept was trialled in two supermarkets in August 2017.

During Quiet Hour Coles customers will see these changes in participating supermarkets:

Coles accessibility sponsor Peter Sheean said customers had responded positively to Quiet Hour.

“We are always looking at ways we can make life easier for our customers and how we can respond to the differing needs of communities by creating a shopping environment in which our customers and team members feel comfortable,” Mr Sheehan said.

“We know that it is estimated that one in 70 people in Australia are on the spectrum, so that’s a lot of our customers who find it challenging to come into our supermarket."

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Aspect Practice national manager and clinical psychologist Dr Tom Tutton said Quiet Hour could make an enormous differences to people on the autism spectrum and their families.

“People on the autism spectrum can have heightened sensory awareness, which makes shopping in a store with bright lights, loud music, unexpected voiceovers and the constant noise of cash registers, incredibly overwhelming," Dr Tutton said.

Coles plans offer Quiet Hour at every eligible Coles supermarket by 2023, with some supermarkets needing retrofitting to control light and audio settings.

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