Several groups condemned Greggs, a bakery chain giant in the UK, for releasing an advent calendar showing a half-eaten sausage roll in the Nativity scene.
In the $31 calendar, Greggs put the snack in a manger surrounded by the three wise men. Christians and Muslims alike were outraged by the company’s depiction of the Christmas scene for commercial purposes, The Northern Echo reports.
A Greggs’ spokesman has issued an apology. “We’re really sorry to have caused any offense,. This was never our intention.”
Meantime, Newcastle City Councilor Dipu Ahad, spokesman for the North-East Islam community, claimed Greggs’ marketing strategy was “disgraceful” and “distasteful.”
The chief executive of the Freedom Association, a right wing pressure group, called the baker “sick” and claimed that it would never “insult other religions.”
Reverend Mark Edwards, of St Matthew’s Church in Dinnington, Newcastle, criticized Greggs for being “disrespectful.”
He said, “You show such contempt for millions of Christians who no doubt shop at your stores. I wouldn’t be surprised if people voted with their feet and boycotted Greggs, I know I am and I wouldn’t discourage anyone else from doing the same either.”
Meantime, Newcastle City Councilor Dipu Ahad, spokesman for the North-East Islam community, claimed Greggs’ marketing strategy was “disgraceful” and “distasteful.”
Christians went to Twitter to show their disgust over the fast food giant’s advert, according to The Guardian. One user tweeted, “No other religion would stand for that nonsense.”
Daniel Webster, a spokesperson for the Evangelical Alliance, said Greggs wasn’t the first company to distort the real Christmas story for profit. He noticed that Christmas controversies seemed to get earlier every year.
Sources:
The Northern Echo
The Guardian
