Ten members of environmental pressure group Climate Rush handed out Valentine’s day biscuits and flyers informing customers of the partnership between Waitrose and Shell over lunchtime today at the Waitrose store on Tottenham Court Road. More than 150 heart-shaped cookies iced with ‘Shell is hell’ and ‘Dump Shell’ messages were handed out between 1-2pm.
Shell and Waitrose are in the first phases of a partnership that John Bullock, Executive Vice President of Shell Global Retail Business describes as “the beginning of a strong relationship”. So far this relationship has seen two Little Waitrose convenience branches open on existing Shell forecourts and joint marketing campaigns, including “save 5p per litre on 25 litres of Shell fuel” coupons given to Waitrose customers at the till.
Alison Dibbs, 26, a spokeswoman for Climate Rush said, “I have always been proud to shop at Waitrose in the belief that this meant I was spending money at a supermarket that is committed to forward thinking and sustainable practice. I’m really disappointed that Waitrose have partnered up with Shell and am surprised it would make a decision so opposite to the ethics it promotes”.
Climate Rush called Waitrose for a statement but they declined to comment.
The protest continues online this week with a #dumpShell twitter campaign. Twitter users are being urged to tweet @WaitroseUK quotes from their favourite break-up songs to request that Waitrose ends their “bad romance” with Shell. Waitrose has responded to questions on its Facebook page about its partnership with Shell by banning users from posting.
High quality photos available at Demotix.
Tags: Activism, Climate Change, climate rush, ethical consumer, oil, shell, social media, supermarkets, twitter, Valentine's Day, Waitrose