'Done donating to third party billionaires': Loblaws roasted for requesting charity — and sign design error
This isn't the first time the company has come under fire over asking for donations from customers
As food price inflation continues to seriously impact our grocery bills, Loblaws is facing criticism for a sign requesting donations for its charity at its till, which also features a sloppy design oversight.
Loblaws gonna Loblaw pic.twitter.com/2sk0qR75sc
— Halifax ReTales (@HalifaxReTales) February 26, 2023
A picture posted online shows a sign secured to a payment till. It reads: “Would you like to make a $2 donation to President’s Choice Children’s Charity, to help feed kids here in <province>?”
While some were amused by the design mistake, many were unhappy that the company was soliciting donations when food prices are already at a high - along with Loblaws' profits.
@FridayInHalifax I hear <province> is lovely this time of year
— Marty Hallat (@martyhallat) February 26, 2023
It's also when the <local food or beverage> tastes the best! Yum yum! 😋
— Marty Hallat (@martyhallat) February 26, 2023
"I know we posted record profits, but would you give even more of your hard earned money to us so we can get a tax writeoff?"
— Peter Rainford (@rainypete) February 28, 2023
I’m done donating to third party billionaires. As I try to keep my own family’s head above water, I donate directly to the source when I can.
— AC (@Nova_AC) February 26, 2023
If they refrained from so greedily jacking up prices and if they half decently paid their staff, some of those kids wouldn’t be hungry in the first place. The audacity of seeking public admiration for throwing charity at a problem they help to create.
— Lesli Bisgould (@LBisgould) February 27, 2023
Maybe donate some of your record profits. Just sayin’
— John P (@coachjohn25) February 27, 2023
No, @loblawco, I’d prefer that you stop your obscene price-gouging so families can afford to feed their own kids.
— Susan Lawson (@trxc1963) February 27, 2023
Lobblaws you have food, you don't need us to give you the money to buy food and then donate that in the name of PC. Plus why do you think these kids need to be fed? it's possible that the problem lies with your expensive groceries that their parents struggle to buy?
— Ray 🚒 (@RayJCtweets) February 27, 2023
If it wasn’t for @LoblawsON greed, there would be less hungry children.
— Lev Atate (@jleighton22) February 27, 2023
This isn’t the first time in recent months that Loblaws has rubbed people the wrong way when asking for donations. Late last year, an email sent by the company encouraged its customers to donate their Optimum loyalty points directly to several partnered charities.
Loblaws CEO Galen Weston was recently called to testify to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, which is an on-going review of food price inflation.
The company's president and chief financial officer, Richard Dufresne recently told analysts on an earnings briefing that "retail prices are not growing faster than costs, the company is not taking advantage of inflation to drive profit."
