Shop pulls “Virgin Mary crisps” after complaints

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:00 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

Shop pulls “Virgin Mary crisps” after complaints 2016-09-30T17:00:44-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

From London:

Coffee and sandwich chain Pret A Manger has withdrawn its ‘Virgin Mary’ brand of crisps after a flurry of religious complaints.

The coffee-shop made the costly decision to pull the brand after campaigners on the Protect the Pope website pointed out the offensive crisps branding to its members.

Responding to the complaints, the religious website says Pret a Manger has ‘apologised for any unintentional offence they have caused and have indicted that they will give any unsold crisps to the homeless’.

Posting on the website, Deacon Nick Donnelly, says: ‘Clive Schlee (Pret CEO) has admitted to a reader of Protect the Pope that taking this brand of crisps off their shelves will cost them quite a bit of money but “good businesses listen and react quickly”.

Mr Donnelly includes grabs of two Tweets from Pret, that confirm the company is has decided to remove the crisps from the market with immediate effect.

The first Tweet say: ‘We’re sorry the name offended you. It wasn’t our intention. Our CEO has decided to remove them with effect from today.’

The second, one minute later, adds: ‘We’ll donate the unsold crisps to homeless charities. Thanks for tweeting. We do listen and we’ve tried to react quickly.’

Keith Beech, a spokesman for Pret, confirmed to the mailonline that CEO Clive Schlee spoke with an organiser of the the Catholic charity group, apologised for any offence, and agreed to withdraw the brand of spicy tomato crisps.
Although he could not put a figure on the number of complaints received, Mr Beech said the launch and subsequent withdrawal of the brand happened all within a week.

‘The decision was made Friday morning as it became clear the crisps weren’t popular,’ he said.

‘They were launched last week, so it was within a week of launch,’ he added. He said the brand was only launched in London.

News of Pret’s reaction comes as the company faces accusations of a regime of ‘enforced happiness’ of for staff at the chain. Mystery shoppers check for moodiness, which is said to be discouraged at the chain.

The Catholic website goes on to post a number of replies received from Pret following the anti-Virgin Mary brand of crisps.

A message from Pret CEO Clive Schlee to a reader of Protect the Pope says: ‘You will be glad to hear I have taken your advice. We have now had a lot of calls and emails from our customers and we have decided to stop selling the crisps with effect from today.

‘This is costing us quite a bit of money but good businesses listen and react quickly. We will be giving the unsold crisps to charity.’

Read the rest.

From the description of the snack, I presume they were modeled on the drink of the same name, which is a Bloody Mary without alcohol.

Mary

This & that

Previous Post

February 3, 2013

Catholic school enacts a "no swearing pledge"...but only for girls

Next Post

February 3, 2013 Super Superbowl ad: "So God made a farmer"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which disciple brought his brother to Jesus, saying, 'We have found the Messiah'?

Select your answer to see how you score.

John James Peter Andrew

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »