Devoted fans made Wegmans the country's top grocery store last year, but now the East Coast chain is attracting major controversy for selling Trump Winery products. Members of the #GrabYourWallet campaign as well as National Organization for Women are leading the charge, boycotting the store until they remove the brand from their shelves.
Wegmans has stocked some Virginia locations with the local Charlottesville wines since 2008, three years before Donald Trump bought the vineyard. His son, Eric Trump, currently serves as president of the company.
"As long as Trump Products are sold here, myself, my family and as many people as I can convince will not shop here," one person wrote on Facebook. "We simply refuse to support racism, bigotry and homophobia."
"I love Wegmans but I will not shop there while Trump products are sold," another former fan said. "It's not "foolishness." It's a matter of stating that I will not support Trump or condone income he derives from his wines by shopping at the store."
However, Trump supporters (and some wine drinkers) are urging the company to keep the controversial brand. "I would hate it if Wegmans stopped selling Trump wine. I have been buying it at Wegmans way before the elections," one woman wrote. "It's just GOOD wine. I don't care who voted for who."
Despite the backlash, Wegmans is maintaining a neutral front. "Our role as a retailer is to offer choice to our customers," spokeswoman Jo Natale told USA Today. "How a product performs is our single measure for what stays on our shelves and what goes."
Natale told the Huffington Post that boycotters can make their voices heard. "Individual shoppers who feel strongly about an issue can demonstrate their convictions by refusing to buy a product," she said in a statement. "When enough people do the same ... we stop selling that product in favor of one that's in greater demand."
Take that as a sign to buy (and drink) more wine, from whatever brand you support.
[h/t Huffington Post]
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