Just a few weeks after Whole Foods launched its Ramadan marketing campaign, it's been reported that they have officially abandoned their social effort. An internal email distributed to Whole Foods chains, instructs:
"It is probably best that we don't specifically call out or 'promote' Ramadan ... We should not highlight Ramadan in signage in our stores as that could be considered 'Celebrating or promoting' Ramadan."
This prejudice demand from Whole Foods executives comes after right-wing bloggers criticized Whole Foods, the first national supermarket chain to launch a Ramadan marketing campaign. But, apparently, they are also the first national supermarket to completely abandon their Ramadan marketing campaign because of disapproval on the web.
Didn't Whole Foods realize that ditching their Ramadan promotional efforts would start a whole different battle?
Whole Foods: Not only is this bad business etiquette, this is a sure-fire way for your brand to lose customers, for life.
How do you feel about this cancelled promotion?