Choosing the right entrance mats for high-footfall supermarkets

With thousands of customers passing through on a daily basis, supermarket entrances are one of the most demanding areas in any commercial building. Retail facilities managers, therefore, need entrance matting that is up to the challenge of shopping trolleys, prams and wet footwear, which all place intense pressure on flooring and entrance matting systems. 

The challenge of high footfall in supermarkets

Supermarket entrances are unique; the constant foot traffic they experience will accelerate wear on flooring and weather conditions bring moisture, dirt and debris instore. Without effective retail entrance mats, floors will deteriorate prematurely, become slippery, and have greater cleaning requirements. For facilities managers, however, durability, performance and appearance must also be balanced with HSE obligations. 

The benefits of effective entrance matting systems

Effective entrance matting offers the retail facilities manager many benefits including:

•    Anti-slip safety – entrance mats remove dirt and moisture from shoes. This reduces the risk of slips, helping supermarkets meet their duty of care.

•    Improved cleanliness – where moisture and debris are captured by entrance mats, they cannot be spread throughout the store. This reduces cleaning times and cost. 

•    Enhanced store appearance – a clean, well-maintained entrance creates a positive impression, reinforcing brand standards.

•    Floor protection – when abrasive debris is stopped at the entrance, internal shop flooring is protected from scratches and wear and will have a longer lifespan. 

For high-footfall supermarkets, these benefits mean safer environments, lower maintenance budgets and enhanced customer confidence.

Key considerations for high-footfall areas

During specification, facilities managers should consider:

•    Traffic levels – entrance matting must be suitable for continuous footfall, as well as heavy loads such as shopping trolleys.

•    Zonal coverage - a zonal entrance matting approach – combining external, primary and secondary matting zones – will maximise the removal of dirt and moisture. See ‘What is zonal entrance matting? Benefits, features, and why it’s essential for building safety’ for more about this.

•    Compliance - mats must pass relevant slip resistance tests and meet all fire safety standards.

•    Ease of maintenance – removable infill systems help maintain performance over time.

Retail entrance mats suitable for supermarkets

Zonal entrance matting is the perfect solution for supermarkets, as it removes dirt progressively, at each stage of the customer journey, keeping floors safer and cleaner:

•    External matting scrapes off heavy debris before customers bring it into the store.

•    Primary aluminium grid matting will then absorb moisture and trap fine dirt, once customers are inside the store.

•    Secondary matting further into the store ensures clean and dry floors during wet weather.

Material selection matters

For high-footfall retail premises, choosing the right material is vital. A combination of aluminium and textile gives exceptional durability, while high-twist yarns improve moisture absorption. Choose between open-channel designs for areas with high volumes of debris are expected, or dense textile inserts for moisture-heavy conditions. Selecting the right materials ensures that retail entrance mats maintain performance even under constant use.

Retail entrance matting solutions from Entrance Matting Systems

Entrance Matting Systems (EMS) offers proven solutions for supermarket environments. The EMS Colortread range provides durable, high-performance textile entrance matting with excellent moisture absorption and strong visual appeal, making it ideal for primary internal zones. For areas exposed to heavier debris, the EMS Evergreen Debris Channel system features robust open channels that efficiently trap dirt and stones before they reach interior floors.

Contact us

By investing in the right entrance matting systems and adopting a zonal approach, retail facilities managers can create safer, cleaner and more welcoming supermarket entrances – even under the pressures of constant high footfall. 

To find out how we can help your specification, call the team on 01205 761757 or email us at info@entrance-matting.com