Tesco and Morrisons will open their stores with reduced hours on Boxing Day to allow staff to spend more time with their families over the festive period.

The two grocers both said they would be operating stores the day after Christmas but only on limited hours, following Asda’s announcement yesterday that it would be shutting all of its stores on Boxing Day. 

Tesco said it would also be giving full-time staff across its stores, warehouses and fulfilment centres an extra 10% bonus covering the period December 13 to January 9. 

In a message to staff, Asda boss Roger Burnley said he would be closing stores on Boxing Day in order to allow staff more time to spend with friends and family during the five-day lifting of Covid restrictions.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “Our stores are open for reduced hours on Boxing Day. Many of our customers rely on their local stores over Boxing Day – from families in search of essentials to key workers needing access to food. 

“To recognise our colleagues’ incredible hard work, we’re also giving our frontline colleagues an extra 10% bonus over the Christmas and New Year period.”

A Morrisons spokesman said: “We will be opening our stores on Boxing Day for a limited number of hours to help our customers.  

“The wellbeing of our colleagues remains a key priority to us and our stores are working hard to ensure all colleagues get a meaningful break during the Christmas period, so they can spend quality time with their family, friends or loved ones.   

“Working on Boxing Day is voluntary for our colleagues and they receive double pay and time back in lieu.”

Sainsbury’s has confirmed that it will be opening all stores as normal on Boxing Day this year.