Outrage ensues as Coles quietly cancels popular service in some local stores!
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Furious shoppers have taken to social media to express their feelings of disgust and outrage at Coles Supermarkets after learning that some of their stores had quietly dropped a free service.
Confirmation that the Coles 'free fruit for kids' program had been cancelled came from a spokesperson from the grocery superstore, who stated that the service 'is not available at every Coles', and 'is at the discretion of every store'.
This revelation was particularly upsetting to one Coles shopper and mum of a toddler, who shared her experience on social media. She said that she had visited two stores close to her home and had been told on each occasion that the supermarket chain was no longer offering free fruit for kids.
Watching her child eat a banana she had purchased from the store while shopping, the mum said in her video: 'I can't believe [Coles] have stopped doing free fruit for kids in store. Why is no one talking about this? I'm boycotting Coles'.
Perhaps even more distressing to this particular shopper was that Coles and Woolworths realised staggering profits last year.
‘Coles have also made a statement that last year they made a profit after tax of $1.1 billion in Australia,’ she said.
‘Woolworths, on the other hand, have released a statement that they have donated 100 million pieces of fruit in the last eight years.’
‘Sorry, let’s do the math. Say it’s all bananas—72 cents a banana on 100 million is $72 million.’
‘That’s a lot of bananas, but we all know they’re not paying retail prices. So yes, still a huge profit in my opinion.’
Social media users were quick to comment about the free fruit program being still available in some stores, with one shopper saying, 'My local in Queensland still has it'. Another commented, 'Mine still does it'. One more user said, 'Our Coles workers just tell us to take one piece from the shelves. Most workers in my area understand that food keeps children quiet while shopping.'
The initiative of 'free fruit for kids' is not new when it comes to Australian supermarkets. Major supermarket chains introduced this program in the mid-2010s to support healthy eating and provide a little gift for the youngest of their clientele.
Coles, for one, launched their program around 2015, and it was hailed by parents as a true game-changer. The idea was simple, yet effective. Children could enjoy a piece of free fruit from designated baskets as their parents shopped. The move was not only a boon to parents dealing with busy toddlers and restless children and helped promote healthy eating habits.
In addition to helping parents maintain shopping sanity, the complimentary healthy snack initiative also aimed to combat the mounting childhood obesity epidemic, which sees roughly one in four Australian children aged 2-17 overweight or obese, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The free fruit offering was one way Coles demonstrated a commitment to community health and well-being. The choice of offering fruit was also a strategic one, helping shift the focus towards good nutrition and shifting away from hazardous processed foods. Fruits like bananas, apples, and pears–high in essential vitamins and nutrients–were commonly seen in these baskets, providing a fresh, healthy pick-me-up for little ones mid shop.
The cancellation of such an effective and beloved program by Coles at some stores has indeed shocked some health-conscious Australian parents. For them, it is a disappointing outcome, especially considering the impact it has on creating a healthier shopping environment for families and fostering good nutrition habits from an early age.
Source: Image: TikTok /@getsocialwithsammi
So, members: Do you think Coles stores should make it a point to have this free service available? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Confirmation that the Coles 'free fruit for kids' program had been cancelled came from a spokesperson from the grocery superstore, who stated that the service 'is not available at every Coles', and 'is at the discretion of every store'.
This revelation was particularly upsetting to one Coles shopper and mum of a toddler, who shared her experience on social media. She said that she had visited two stores close to her home and had been told on each occasion that the supermarket chain was no longer offering free fruit for kids.
Watching her child eat a banana she had purchased from the store while shopping, the mum said in her video: 'I can't believe [Coles] have stopped doing free fruit for kids in store. Why is no one talking about this? I'm boycotting Coles'.
A local shopper was disappointed that some Coles Supermarkets no longer offer ‘free fruit for kids’. Image: TikTok / @getsocialwithsammi
Perhaps even more distressing to this particular shopper was that Coles and Woolworths realised staggering profits last year.
‘Coles have also made a statement that last year they made a profit after tax of $1.1 billion in Australia,’ she said.
‘Woolworths, on the other hand, have released a statement that they have donated 100 million pieces of fruit in the last eight years.’
‘Sorry, let’s do the math. Say it’s all bananas—72 cents a banana on 100 million is $72 million.’
‘That’s a lot of bananas, but we all know they’re not paying retail prices. So yes, still a huge profit in my opinion.’
Social media users were quick to comment about the free fruit program being still available in some stores, with one shopper saying, 'My local in Queensland still has it'. Another commented, 'Mine still does it'. One more user said, 'Our Coles workers just tell us to take one piece from the shelves. Most workers in my area understand that food keeps children quiet while shopping.'
The initiative of 'free fruit for kids' is not new when it comes to Australian supermarkets. Major supermarket chains introduced this program in the mid-2010s to support healthy eating and provide a little gift for the youngest of their clientele.
Coles, for one, launched their program around 2015, and it was hailed by parents as a true game-changer. The idea was simple, yet effective. Children could enjoy a piece of free fruit from designated baskets as their parents shopped. The move was not only a boon to parents dealing with busy toddlers and restless children and helped promote healthy eating habits.
The shopper also raised Coles’ high profits that made her frustrated with the cancellation of the ‘free fruit for kids’ service. Image: TikTok / @getsocialwithsammi
In addition to helping parents maintain shopping sanity, the complimentary healthy snack initiative also aimed to combat the mounting childhood obesity epidemic, which sees roughly one in four Australian children aged 2-17 overweight or obese, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The free fruit offering was one way Coles demonstrated a commitment to community health and well-being. The choice of offering fruit was also a strategic one, helping shift the focus towards good nutrition and shifting away from hazardous processed foods. Fruits like bananas, apples, and pears–high in essential vitamins and nutrients–were commonly seen in these baskets, providing a fresh, healthy pick-me-up for little ones mid shop.
The cancellation of such an effective and beloved program by Coles at some stores has indeed shocked some health-conscious Australian parents. For them, it is a disappointing outcome, especially considering the impact it has on creating a healthier shopping environment for families and fostering good nutrition habits from an early age.
Source: Image: TikTok /@getsocialwithsammi
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