People are ridiculing Sainsbury's new 'wellness aisle' on Twitter
![Sainsbury’s has now rolled out in-store ‘wellness’ aisles. [Photo: Rex]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OBhqTa.l3.opatUf1ul1uw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02Nzc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/52e6b670297ad7e2fcfea593f30a854d)
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s recently launched their new ‘wellness aisles’ to appear to its healthier shoppers, but the internet isn’t so sure about the idea.
“Wellness and sports nutrition are areas that are becoming increasingly popular with our customers,” said Sainsbury’s food commercial director Paul Mills-Hicks in a statement.
“To make sure they can find everything they need quickly and easily, we’ve doubled our range, introducing specialist and premium brands that customers won’t find in any other stores.
“With such a convenient choice of distinctive products, we’re confident that health-conscious customers won’t need to shop anywhere else.”
However, food writer Bee Wilson took issue with the initiative in a now-viral tweet, which criticised the types of product sold at one branch in Sainsbury’s.
This is depressing. A new ‘wellness’ aisle in Sainsbury’s, Cambridge. Contents: sugary biscuits, protein bars, organic cola drinks, slimming shakes. The madness of our food culture all in one aisle. pic.twitter.com/CsSa6NmhkD
— Bee Wilson (@KitchenBee) January 2, 2019
The tweet has to date received 544 retweets and 1,930 likes on the social media platform.
Several users on Twitter backed Bee up, bemoaning the lack of fresh produce and whole foods in the wellness aisles.
No fresh veg, fruit, fish meat & nuts & seeds then!!
— Tracey (@tja_1963) January 2, 2019
Surely the ‘wellness’ aisle should be the fruit and veg section? 🍏🥕@sainsburys
— Rachel Pearce (@RachP7) January 3, 2019
Wellness section his the fresh vegetables,fruit, meat and fish section along with eggs and nuts. Thats it.
— Federico Bernuzzi (@FedericoBernuzz) January 2, 2019
When I was last in a Sainsbury’s, about 25 years ago, you could actually buy real food there. Basic ingredients to cook with.
No wonder there’s so much obesity in the UK now.— Angela Fay (@lifelearner47) January 3, 2019
Others made the argument that ‘wellness’ had become more about branding than the food itself – with one saying the word appeared to have changed its meaning.
This is some new meaning of the word ‘wellness’ I have not previously been aware of…
— Sasha Distan (@SashaDistan) January 2, 2019
Oh dear @sainsburys seem to have got confused. Surely ‘wellness’ should be above the food and veg aisle! Most of those products probably have far too much sugar in them to compensate. Whatever happened to make from scratch and know what’s in your food 😢
— Lou | Crumbs & Corkscrews (@crumbscorkscrew) January 3, 2019
That sign should be hanging over the Produce section shouldn’t it.
I wonder if fruits and vegetables were branded as Health foods if that would make a difference to perception and sales….— Sheila English (@english_sheila) January 2, 2019
It’s fraudulent to claim these products are healthy. I suppose wellness is not clearly defined so they can get away with it but supermarkets are complicit in this misleading shitshow.
— londonisforlife (@londonisforlife) January 2, 2019
Yahoo Style UK contacted Sainsbury’s for comment.
A representative told us: “For background, the trial is in seven stores in total. In one store only, some cereal bars are at the end of the aisle – these are not part of the Wellness and Sports Nutrition range, which has different fixtures and displays. We are adding an extra sign to make this clearer for our customers.”
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