Coles responds to claims sign in Melbourne store is ‘racist’

The supermarket giant has stepped in to update a sign in one of its Melbourne stores after some online users claimed it was “racist”.

A Coles sign that has caused fury online has now been changed by the supermarket giant.

A Reddit user shared a photo of a Coles store in Melbourne with a sign hung in front of aisle 10 that read: “Cat food, Dog food, Asian.”

It immediately triggered a barrage of comments from online users who claimed it to be “racist”.

Coles shoppers have questioned a sign that grouped Asian items with pet food, claiming it to be ‘racist’. Picture: Reddit

Coles has since corrected the signage in question by creating a sign just Asian groceries, while keeping cat and dog food together on the same sign.

A Coles spokesperson told news.com.au the store in question has “split aisles with signs at each end to make it easier for customers to navigate”.

“So, while the signage appears to show pet food and Asian food located next to each other, they are actually in very separate sections,” the spokesperson explained.

Reddit users were baffled by the signage with one person asking, “How are these even related?”

“Three-quarters of the supermarkets I’ve been in have the same layout, weird this sneak in?” another added.

Some noted the adjacent aisle also had a bizarre combination with rice grouped together with dishwashing, cleaning products and air freshener.

Coles has since changed the sign in question. Picture: Coles

The supermarket created a sign just for its Asian groceries, while keeping cat and dog food together on the same sign. Picture: Coles

“Looking at the other aisle, it’s just as quirky … in a week it’ll be different again. They’re trying layouts,” one person wrote

Another said: “It’s pretty clever if you want customers to use every aisle.”

However, while some called out the placement of Asian items among dog and cat food to be “racist”, others defended the supermarket giant saying it was likely an “oversight”.

“It’s an assumption to play racist card – more than likely it’s probably just oversight,” one person said.

The Coles spokesperson said with more than 800 supermarkets across Australia, layouts differ on a store-by-store basis.

“While we would typically aim to ensure special ranges, such as Asian or other international foods, are located within the grocery section. In some smaller stores or where aisles are split, they may be found in a different area.”