We Will Not Ban The Union Jack, Say Asda

You may have seen a news article about a so-called 'ban' on Union Jack branding on products in Asda stores in the run-up to the Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Games.

The supermarket giant however today hit out at the claims saying that it was not true.

They said:"There is no question of any 'ban'. We’ll be pulling out the stops as we always do at Asda to celebrate both events in a big way."

On Friday a number of media reports revealed that that the supermarket at Junction One's shopping complex had supposedly removed the image of a Union Jack flag from some of its packaging.

It was alleged that the move was a bid to please its wide base of customers.

Meanwhile according to a report published in the Antrim Guardian Newspaper Ulster Unionist Adrian Watson has branded the decision by the supermarket giant as 'pathetic'.

Mr Watson told the newspaper it was a 'marked contrast' to the store’s celebration of St Patricks Day when it was decorated with 'countless shamrocks'.

He said:"In trying not to offend others, they will offend many like myself with a strong and proud British culture," he said.

The supermarket however claim that the news articles are based on a badly worded email sent to a very small number of suppliers.

They said:"We’ve written to the suppliers apologising and saying the note should never have been sent."

Adrian McKeon, Commercial Director Grocery, said: "While I know you know there’s no ‘ban’ I wanted to personally apologise for the email you received. It was a badly worded note that shouldn’t have been sent. It didn’t even make sense to me, nor did it reflect the huge support we’re putting behind the Olympic Games and Diamond Jubilee celebrations in our stores."

(LB)