The delivery service was established last week in response to the coronavirus to ensure vulnerable members of the community such as the aged, disabled and people with weakened immune systems have access to essential items.

This week the service was extended to healthcare professionals who work in hospitals in addition to people who have a confirmed case of COVID-19 or are in mandatory isolation due to exposure to the coronavirus.

"Supporting local communities is at the heart of what each of our 1400 independently owned and operated IGA stores across the country do, which is why it was clear that we needed to open up this service for those who are working on the frontline during this pandemic. We hope it provides some relief for these workers," said Scott Marshall, CEO of Metcash Food, the wholesale distribution and marketing company behind IGA.

The Priority Shop service, which is being offered by the Shoal Bay and Anna Bay X-press stores, offers four standard grocery packs to ensure vulnerable community members have basic grocery supplies.

The four packs are:

Following the expansion of the Priority Shop to healthcare workers, customers eligible to sign up for the service now include:

Customers will be required to validate their eligibility either online or via the IGA call centre (1800 018 384) before being able to order from the Priority Shop.

The Karuah IGA has not been included in the Priority Service roll out, an IGA spokesperson said.

For those that can make it into the supermarket, Joseph Romeo, an IGA retailer and Chair of the IGA National Retailer Council, said stores were working hard to keep shelves stocked.

"We've implemented a number of measures to keep staff and customers safe including additional cleaning of all common touch points, one-way aisles in some smaller stores and introducing shopper limits to make sure that social distancing guidelines can be achieved," Mr Romeo added.

"IGA's network of stores are truly in a unique position to help locals, and we will continue to work tirelessly to support our local communities."

Like IGA, supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles have adapted the way they regularly operate to cater for customer demand for products created by the pandemic and government health and safety regulations to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Woolworths established a Community Hour for the elderly, disabled and emergency service workers, which is due to wrap up on Sunday, April 19.

Elderly customers and those with a disability have access to Woolworths stores from 7am to 8am on Wednesday and Friday while healthcare and emergency service workers have access 7am to 8am on Tuesday and Thursday.

The Coles Community Hour is also open to carers, friends and neighbours of vulnerable customers from 7am-8am in select stores every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.