Coles has been slammed after it was revealed that the Lunar New display at one store is “triple” the size of the Australia Day range.
It has been further claimed that the Lunar New Year products have “pride of place” in the store, while Coles staff have “shoved” Australia Day merchandise at the “back of the supermarket”.
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Sharing on social media, a shopper — who uses the handle @gowokegobrokeaus — said she was outraged to see the difference in the two displays.
“You will not believe this,” she said in the video.
“I went into Coles to check out the Australia Day merchandise. And yeah, they had some — shoved at the back of the supermarket, may I add.
“But it was there, at least.
“I walked around the corner and this! Lunar New Year — triple the real estate, pride of place.
“I obviously have no issue with Lunar New Year, I think it’s fantastic. It should be celebrated.
“But this display was on crack compared to the Australia Day display.
“I couldn’t believe the difference.”
It comes as some Coles customers have taken to social media to claim that they’ve been unable to find Australia Day displays at their local stores.
Further, there is no Australia Day section on the Coles website — and there are no flags, decorations or other Australia Day-themed items for customers to purchase online.
A Coles spokesperson has confirmed the supermarket would be stocking a small amount of merchandise.
“Throughout January we have been stocking a small range of summer-themed entertaining merchandise which is popular with our customers for sporting events such as the cricket and tennis, as well as for summer entertaining,” the spokesperson said.
Woolworths, meanwhile, has attracted widespread criticism for dumping all Australia Day items from its supermarkets and BIG W stores nationally.
However some Coles customers say they have struggled to find any merchandise on offer — or complained the displays have been relegated to the back of the store.
“Just a question as I’m not good with keeping up with the times, I saw a post last week about Woolworths removing Australia Day products,” one Facebook user said.
“I was in Coles Pakenham today and also noticed no Australia Day products displayed. Is no one celebrating Australia Day this year? Is it really gonna end up being cancelled all together eventually? I’m not looking to debate just curious. Pretty sad though.”
Another added: “Sadly not much and down the back of the stores. Should be up the front.”
A third added: “I went to look at Australia Day merchandise too and couldn’t find it — now I know where to look.”
One more responded: “Yes, at the back of the store. I find this insulting.”
Another said: “My local Coles has two tiny shelves of items. It’s a token effort so they don’t cop the same sort of flogging that Woolies has.”
Hundreds of social media users responded to the shopper’s post about Coles’ large Lunar New Year display, sharing her disappointment.
“That’s such a punch in the guts for us Aussies,” said one.
Another added: “Unbelievable.”
A third wrote: “Says it all doesn’t it?”
One more responded: “Love Australia Day! Come on Coles, get the Aus gear out front!”
Said another: “Bloody unreal … how unAustralian hey?”
But others argued that there may have been other reasons behind the discrepancy in the two displays.
“Food items sell. Trashy cheap Australia Day disposables don’t,” argued one.
Another said: “Lunar New Year products actually sell though.”
A third wrote: “I just don’t think Australia Day merch is that popular, it’s all plastic crap that will end up in landfill.
“I have no issue with it, I just don’t think it sells that much.”