A statue of an Australian soldier erected inside a Coles store ahead of Anzac Day has sparked an intensely patriotic reaction from many on social media, while others have argued that it cheapens the day by turning it into “a sales ploy”.
The veteran’s statue was prominently placed at the store in Annandale, a suburb of Townsville in northern Queensland.
The sculpture was created by a store employee as a tribute to her father, who was a war veteran.
The statue was placed on a small table and was decorated with red poppies around its base.
The sculpture was created by a Coles employee who works at the store as a tribute to her father, who was a war veteran.
A flag reading “Lest We Forget” was draped over the front of the display of traditional Anzac biscuits.
The supermarket is located opposite Townsville’s Lavarack Barracks, which is Australia’s largest military base.
‘Coles Annandale Townsville. Huge display as soon as you walk in, great,” wrote local Carol Booking, who shared a photo of the display.
Hundreds of shoppers added comments praising the store for celebrating Anzac Day on April 25.
‘Well done, showing respect for the fallen and their sacrifices! Thank you!’ said one customer.
“Lest we forget it’s a nice display,” another shopper wrote.
“Awesome, Coles.”
Others, however, thought the exhibit was trying to turn a sacred day into a marketing opportunity.
‘Why does everyone want to commercialize Anzac Day?’ said one person.
Hundreds of shoppers praised the supermarket giant for setting up the window ahead of Anzac Day commemorations (pictured)
‘If it was actually for ANZAC DAY it would be an exhibition and nothing more,’ another user wrote.
But other buyers responded to that objection.
‘How is it marketed? Remembering the men and women who gave for their country,” said one shopper.
A Coles spokeswoman told WhatsNew2Day Australia they will sell tins of Anzac biscuits as part of their existing partnerships with veterans organisations, including the RSL, to support soldiers and the armed forces.
“Coles is proud to continue its long-standing community partnership with the Bravery Trust and to support team members who have served or are serving in the Australian Defense Force or Reserves,” the spokeswoman said.
‘Our bakers rise to the occasion for the Bravery Trust every year, making almost 500,000 Anzac biscuits in the week leading up to Anzac Day. It’s a cause our bakers love to support and we hope our customers can also support by purchasing a 12-pack of Coles Bakery Anzac biscuits on or before Anzac Day.
The supermarket giant will also donate 40 cents from the sale of every 12-pack of Anzac Day cookies and biscuits sold in-store and online.