NextSharkNextShark.com

Australian supermarket called ‘racist’ for sign showing Asian and pet food in the same aisle

Australian supermarket called ‘racist’ for sign showing Asian and pet food in the same aisle

A Coles supermarket in Melbourne came under fire for an aisle sign indicating Asian food items in the same section as pet food.

April 6, 2022
SHARE
A Coles supermarket in Melbourne came under fire for an aisle sign indicating Asian food items in the same section as pet food.
A Reddit user posted a photo of the store’s Aisle 10 sign, which reads, “Cat food, Dog food, Asian” with the caption “How are these 3 categories related” in the r/Melbourne subreddit.
Many Reddit users were quick to label the sign as “racist,” questioning why the Asian food was sectioned together with pet food.
“I’m not exactly the most PC person around but um…isn’t that kind of a racist implication?” one user commented.
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter

A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.

Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.

Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.

“75% of the supermarkets I’ve been in have the same layout, so how did this sneak in?” another user wrote.
Other users suggested that the supermarket may have been going through rearrangements, also noting the odd combination of rice and cleaning products in the next aisle.
“Assumption you’ve pulled the racist card when more than likely it’s not,” one user replied. “Looking at the other aisle, it’s just as quirky with the stocking. Likely, they’re moving stuff around and doing it over a few days, so come back in a week, and it’s probably going to be different again. Our Coles reshuffle shelving all the time.”
“It’s pretty clever if you are designing it to force customers to use every aisle,” another user argued.
The supermarket has since changed the signage following the online backlash. A Coles spokesperson also explained that each of the Coles supermarkets in Australia have different layouts. The spokesperson noted that the Melbourne store specifically has “split aisles with signs at each end to make it easier for customers to navigate.”
“While the signage appears to show pet food and Asian food located next to each other, they are actually in very separate sections,” the spokesperson told News.com.au.
“While we would typically aim to ensure special ranges, such as Asian or other international foods, are located within the grocery section,” they added. “In some smaller stores or where aisles are split, they may be found in a different area.”
MOST READ
    HAPPENING NOW
      Michelle De Pacina

      Michelle De Pacina is a New York-based Reporter for NextShark

      SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

      RELATED STORIES FROM NEXTSHARK

      Support
      NextShark's
      Journalism

      Many people might not know this, but NextShark is a small media startup that runs on no outside funding or loans, and with no paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on help from our community and readers like you.

      Everything you see today is built by Asians, for Asians to help amplify our voices globally and support each other. However, we still face many difficulties in our industry because of our commitment to accessible and informational Asian news coverage.

      We hope you consider making a contribution to NextShark so we can continue to provide you quality journalism that informs, educates, and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. Thank you for supporting NextShark and our community.

      © 2023 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.