To think the job of supermarkets is to sell groceries?

We proudly represent and serve our diverse society and anyone who does not want to shop with an inclusive retailer is welcome to shop elsewhere

Why would Sainsbury’s think that anyone would choose to shop elsewhere because they were inclusive?
Do people go round supermarkets looking to see how many ethnic minority staff they employ?

Most people shop on price or on quality.

It sounds almost as though Sainsbury’s think that their customer base is full of racist bigots and they want to get rid of them.

Looks like there'll be a better class of fellow shopper in Sainsbury's in future, then.

We proudly represent and serve our diverse society and anyone who does not want to shop with an inclusive retailer is welcome to shop elsewhere"

I prefer:

We proudly represent and serve our diverse society and look forward to welcoming all customers who want to shop with an inclusive retailer.

Same message but without the unnecessary "suck it up or bugger off".

No, absolutely not.
Sainsbury's is not amongst your circle of friends.

This is a retail business, not your or my best friend.
They need to use marketing psychology to encourage people to come in, to shop and to learn.

Callistemon, I assume the words you object to are:

"We proudly represent and serve our diverse society and anyone who does not want to shop with an inclusive retailer is welcome to shop elsewhere"

Sounds spot on to me. Such a person is not welcome in my circle of friends either.

Wouldn't it have been much better to have said
"Come along to your nearest store and find out more about Black History - learn and enjoy."

The way they have worded it has obviously got some people's backs up - whereas they could have been an influence for good.

Well done Sainsbury's then!

Isn't it rather churlish to object? Does it adversely affect their sales of groceries? It would do most of us good to be a bit more aware of Black history. I don't know about you but the history I was taught at school seemed to assume that the rest of the world just sprang into existence when the English came along to rescue it from darkness and ignorance.

I do think they could have worded it better in order to win friends and influence people.

They need a new person who understands leverage psychology in marketing!

flopen, shop where you like - I'm sure that Sainsbury's won't miss you - although I can't think why you'd object.

flopen

I think people have got odd ideas of how much time is available in the curriculum to learn any history.

I recall a few years (less than 10) ago teaching Native American history. If there is time for that, there is time for including the history of black Britons.

No problem with retailers supporting charities, e.g. I always put something in a food bank bin when there is one and they often match donations. Like other posters I do not see much diversity in the 2 branches I can go to. I simply object to their tone "take it or leave it". So I'll leave it and they've also lost my Christmas advance order to M & S.

I think people have got odd ideas of how much time is available in the curriculum to learn any history.

I don't know much about Black History Month, but I can't see how it can be offensive, particularly in the context of a supermarket. What are they doing to support it? If it's suggesting recipes or something, where's the harm? It can be difficult to join in things like this without accusations of tokenism, but if they are donating money to schools or community projects that celebrate Black History, that sounds good to me.

On the whole, I think that Black History should be integrated into 'history' when it comes to the curriculum, though. I read something by David Olusoga recently, and he pointed out that he learned about the Industrial Evolution at school, but it was all about mechanisation of cotton production, and not about who had picked the cotton or the families who made a fortune out of the people picking the cotton. That is pretty much exactly what my experience of history was like. I think if the curriculum expanded a bit to include the fuller picture there would be no need to separate Black History, which could be divisive and present black people as 'other'. Until that happens, though (and to be fair, maybe it has - it's a long time since either DO or I were at school) then anything that encourages inclusivity is a good thing.

I'm an infrequent customer of Sainsbury's but I'm very glad to see they've pinned their flag to the mast in raising awareness of Black History Month; Like others, I'm not entirely sure that the 2nd, rather confrontational, paragraph was necessary though. They might just as well as have said "like it or lump it", which doesn't help those who need to have more awareness of the campaign come onboard.

I think I’d like my awareness raised with a little more courtesy.

I don't think they're raising money but raising awareness.

I saw this online:

As Black History Month draws to a close, Sainsbury's and Argos colleagues across the UK have had a fantastic time celebrating this special month of observance together. A tradition that started in the US, this annual celebration has been adopted by the UK to shine the spotlight on and celebrate black history and culture as well as the contribution of those with Africa, Caribbean or Asian descent.

1st August 2017

So this is nothing new.

It's their rather rude 2nd paragraph which is off putting.
Do they quiz customers at the door?

Well done to Sainsburys I applaud them.

That's fine by me if they wish to support Black History Month if it's a charity.

But I do take issue with their second paragraph which more or less says - if you don't like it you can bugger off elsewhere.
That is rather offensive.

Yes, Galaxy, I'd be more impressed if I saw more black people working in our nearest Sainsbury's and I'd be interested to see a portfolio of their managers.

Anyway, we can't go there, they are in a lockdown area.
They're not my favourite supermarket; I'm avoiding them because they could not give me a priority slot and were very offhand about it.

So Sainsbury’s are supporting black history month yes ?
Fine by me

Hmm. I think I’d be a little more inclined to support that slightly aggressive attitude if Sainsbury's management reflected our diverse society.

www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/about-us/our-management

Sorry, I too have posted about Black Lives matter when I meant to say Black History Month - I was interrupted whilst writing.

I’ve asked for my comments to be deleted as they are clearly inaccurate.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.