Shoppers pledge loyalty to Coles after Alan Jones delivers bitter spray at supermarket giant
When Alan Jones called for listeners to boycott supermarket Coles after they pulled advertising from his radio show, he was hoping to put a dent in their sales - but his harsh words for the grocery chain may have backfired.
The controversial Sydney radio host took aim at Coles who stopped advertising in response to comments Jones made in August about at New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who he called a “complete clown” and suggested Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison should “shove a sock down her throat”.
On Thursday morning Jones took aim at the supermarket giant on his popular morning radio show on 2GB, telling Coles to look at its own “value system” before passing judgment.
The 78-year-old shock jock called Coles “corporate hypocrites”, accusing it of ripping off dairy farmers.
Jones then urged his listeners to avoid the supermarket and warned he was “stepping into the ring”.
“So I can tell my listeners to give Coles supermarkets, and their petrol stations a very wide berth .... We can both play the same game,” he said.
“And good luck to you by the time I am finished,” he cautioned Coles.
But Jones may have underestimated the reaction from his many critics, as numerous people took to social media to post Coles receipts and vowed to shop at the store, purely out of opposition to the controversial 2GB personality.
Kudos to @Coles Supermarkets for pulling advertising with Alan Jones. I will be making a conscious effort to do all my shopping with Coles Supermarket, ESPECIALLY in light of AJ's call to boycott 😂 I'm sure he can buy his socks elsewhere pic.twitter.com/I42KxT91QL
— csbrabender (@csbrabender) October 3, 2019
“Sorry Woolworths but I can ONLY shop at Coles now. Nothing to do with you per se but it's my personal policy to ALWAYS do the exact opposite of anything Alan Jones suggests,” one man posted on Twitter.
“Well I’ll now got out of my way to shop Coles since hearing this! Who does this old friggin’ dinosaur Alan Jones think he is?” someone quipped.
“I will happily drive straight past my local Woolies and go an additional 5kms just to shop with you following your decision to withdraw from Alan Jones,” another Twitter user posted on Thursday.
Despite Alan Jones apologising for his rant against the New Zealand Prime Minister, more than 80 advertisers pulled their money from the 2GB morning show and while some brands have returned, some people are hoping Coles holds its ground.
“I will shop at Coles while they do not advertise with 2GB. If they renege, there are many other options! I like to feel that the massive female workplace in Coles group are supported,” another person wrote.
“I also will switch to Coles from now on even though it is a little out of my way to do so. Stay strong Coles,” a Twitter user added.
Yahoo News Australia contacted Coles for comment.
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