A Canadian man in a wheelchair has praised an Australian supermarket chain after discovering a detail that made grocery shopping easier than ever.
Brennan Noeth, who has a spinal cord injury, said a simple trolley feature restored a sense of independence he hadn’t felt in years.
He described the discovery as a ‘game-changer’ for anyone navigating a store in a wheelchair.
Mr Noeth, currently in Australia, gave a shout out to Coles after finding trolleys that could attach directly to his wheelchair.
‘I can say first-hand how nice it is to come into a grocery store and not even have to carry a basket on my lap or rely on someone to shop for me,’ he said.
He said the trolley was simple to use, clipping easily onto the wheelchair, and that ‘little things’ like this made a big difference to his independence.
While in Australia, Mr Noeth had only seen similar adaptive trolleys at Coles and Costco, but he noted the ones at Costco were ‘nowhere close’ to fitting his wheelchair.
Source: TikTok/@brennannoeth
He explained: ‘For wheelchair users, grocery shopping can be exhausting, balancing a basket on your lap or relying on someone else to help.’
‘This cart gave me my independence back, and I was able to shop comfortably on my own.’
A Coles spokesperson shared that the trolleys were not a new addition.
‘Our wheelchair-compatible trolleys are available at every Coles with a trolley fleet and can be found at the front of the store to ensure they can be located by customers when they need them,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The trolley is designed to clip onto the front of a wheelchair which enables a customer to move freely across the stores to complete their shop.’
‘Any customer who is unsure about where the trolley is located at their local store is encouraged to speak to our friendly service desk team members who will be able to assist them.’
Did you know?
Did You Know? The UK has had similar accessible trolleys in supermarkets for over 20 years, while these innovations are still catching many Australians by surprise.
Many shoppers said they had never noticed the adaptive trolleys before.
‘I’m an Aussie and have NEVER seen one before! I just get my shopping delivered, I can’t handle shopping with a basket and trying to steer around oblivious people,’ one person said.
Another added: ‘Thanks. I was trying to figure out how it works so I can use it with my elderly dad. I also think the other ones are great with an adult seat.’
‘Seems like a no-brainer. These should be everywhere,’ another commented.
Some users revealed they had seen similar trolleys at Woolworths, Bunnings, Big W and Kmart.
‘They had them in the UK for over 20 years,’ one said.
Another added: ‘Don’t get those in Canada or at least not where I live.’
Disability in Australia: The numbers that matter
5.5 million Australians live with disability (21.4% of population)
1 in 5 Queenslanders have a disability
18.4% of people with disability use aids for mobility tasks
87.4% of people with disability have limitations with core activities
‘I’ve been avoiding doing my grocery shops because I always need help. We still can’t reach what’s on the top of the shelves though,’ one commented.
‘They need these more places. Just the little carts you drive don’t make sense. They work for people with mobility issues but if you already have a chair you can’t exactly transfer over and just leave your chair,’ another added.
‘You know what. I live in NZ and they have the same and I never knew that this is what they were for! (I haven’t used one don't worry so no one come at me haha) I just never knew what they were for! Awesome,’ one person said.
‘I didn’t even realise how much extra work would be for someone in a wheelchair,’ another said.
‘They just need to include one of those extended claw grabber things too for higher up items,’ one user suggested.
What This Means For You
Brennan Noeth’s experience has highlighted how something as simple as a trolley can make a world of difference for people with mobility challenges.
Coles’ wheelchair-compatible trolleys give shoppers independence and freedom, allowing them to navigate stores without relying on others. While many Australians had never noticed these trolleys before, they represent a small but powerful step towards more accessible shopping. Similar options exist at other retailers and overseas, yet wider availability in Australia could transform everyday tasks for countless people.
Have you ever noticed features in stores that make everyday tasks easier for people with mobility challenges?
ADDITIONAL NEEDS TROLLEYS - Have Wheelchair Will Travel — Overview of Coles’ additional needs trolleys, including a personal review by a wheelchair user.
https://havewheelchairwilltravel.net/coles-additional-needs-trolleys/
Easyroll Transport Trolleys - Bunnings Australia — Bunnings’ range of transport trolleys and accessibility features in their stores.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/brands/e/easyroll
Tool Chests, Cabinets & Trolleys - Bunnings Australia — Information on Bunnings’ availability of wheelchairs and mobility trolleys in most stores.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/products/tools/tool-storage/tool-chests-trolleys
People with disability in Australia, Prevalence of disability - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — 2022 survey data showing 5.5 million Australians live with disability, representing 21.4 per cent of the population.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dis...ople-with-disability/prevalence-of-disability
Additional needs trolleys rolled out at Coles - Surf Coast Times — Details of Coles’ trolleys designed for children with disabilities, including weight capacity and support features.
https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/surfcoasttimes/news/additional-needs-trolleys-rolled-out-at-coles/
People with disability in Australia 2019: in brief, How many people have disability? - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Highlights the importance of out-of-home mobility for older Australians and unmet mobility needs.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dis...rief/contents/how-many-people-have-disability
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