POUNDSTRETCHER has sparked fury over what’s been dubbed an “appalling” £3 barbecue advert.
The discount giant plastered its disposable barbecues all over social media – suggesting the single-use grill would be great to take on summer adventures.
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The cheap, portable barbecues have been slammed in recent years with some shops even banning them.
The grills have been linked to horror accidents on beaches and sparked devastating grass blazes on heathland.
The problems they cause led to the fire service and Brits quickly blasting Poundstretcher for promoting such products.
The discount giant posted the ad to Twitter on Friday – along with snaps of the barbecues.
The post read: “Whether you are spending the day at the beach or hiking through the hills, our disposable barbecue is a great way to cook your food.
“Get a Medium sized BBQ for only £3 or a Large for only £5.50!”
South Yorkshire Fire Service quickly slammed the ad.
It wrote: “No, it’s not a great way to cook your food ‘hiking through the hills’.”
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Poundstretcher has since been deleted while offering its “sincerest apologies”.
But social media users’ Tweets remain – blasting the post.
One person said: “When are you going to stop selling these awful disposable BBQs… they are causing irreversible damage to our countryside and moorlands.”
Another posted: “No it’s really not. It’s a great way to start a fire though.”
While someone else added: “Disgraceful that you suggest using these on a hike in the hills – catastrophe waiting to happen apart from the littering when this gets left on the hillside.”
Poundstretcher today admitted it used a “poor choice” of words in the Twitter post.
It said: “We sincerely apologise for our misjudgment and deeply regret posting this insensitive message.
“We have made a poor choice in mentioning ‘hiking through the hills’ in association with this product.”
When are you going to stop selling these awful disposable BBQs…they are causing irreversible damage to our countryside and moorlands.
Twitter user
Poundstretcher said it had now deleted any posts promoting the barbecues – while claiming that it takes “every precaution” when it comes to customers and the environment.
It added: “Our disposable barbecues include clear instructions and warning statements on the packaging to ensure the products are being used safely and responsibly.
“Again, we would like to apologise and we promise to keep doing better.”
Last summer major retailers including Aldi and Morrisons took the decision to limit, and even ban, the sale of disposable barbecues – and will do the same this summer.
But, Tesco, Co-op and Asda have confirmed that they will be selling disposable barbecues this year.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said it has worked with supermarkets to create guidelines on the “safe sale and supply of disposable barbecues”.
Adrian Simpson, products policy adviser at the BRC said: “Disposable barbecues provide a great way for people to enjoy the summer outdoors.
“However, it is extremely important that users realise that these must be used responsibly, following the on-pack instructions and ensuring that they dispose of them correctly.”
