Retailer will not pull adverts or place papers on top shelf

The No More Page 3 campaigners have suffered a setback in their bid to persuade the Co-op to support them. They wanted the retailer to pull its advertisements from the Sun and to place copies of the paper (and the Daily Star) on the top shelves of its stores.

But Co-operative Food has refused to bow to demands from No More Page 3 campaigners despite votes by its members at meetings in three regions in favor of the moves.

According to a Co-op member, the voting – which took place at annual meetings of the societies in May this year – showed large majorities for action in the south and east area, the south and west area and the central area. Similar motions were narrowly defeated in two other regions.

The board of Co-operative Food told campaigners that it “entirely respects the views of those campaigning to have ‘Page 3‘ type images dropped from the Sun and the Star”, but added:

“We are mindful, in consideration of these motions, of the need to balance the following: our commercial need to market effectively to our customers; our commitment to create a family-friendly shopping environment and the problems associated with using corporate influence via sales, promotions or advertising to seek to influence editorial decisions.”

It pointed out that it does not advertise in the Star. By contrast, it said, its advertising in the Sun “has for a considerable length of time been an effective part of our communication strategy.

Keep reading…