Tesco Gluten-Free Advert: Did They Do It Right?
You know gluten-free is taking over the world when you see it on the telly.
The Great British Bake Off challenge bakers to culinary delights without gluten, South Park say it makes your dick fly off and now Tesco are diving into the gluten-free market and putting it out there wrapped in tinsel.
It’s no news that Tesco – and plenty of major supermarkets – offer gluten-free products. They just don’t really talk about it that much. So it’s pretty big news – to those who can’t eat gluten – that those products have made it onto a mainstream advert. For those who haven’t seen it yet, here it is:
It’s already receiving mixed reviews. Many applauding the company for promoting gluten-free products at an often awkward time of the year, acknowledging the need for gluten-free products and having a laugh with it. Plus, the gluten-free fadders can be thanked for increasing the range of goodies for those who genuinely can’t eat the gut-disrupting protein.
Others are angered by the flippant nature of the ad, making it look like a ‘choice’. Which, when you take into consideration how many people are clueless about coeliac – but have heard the buzzword ‘gluten-free’ bandied about – it’s not surprising.
But when so many are jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon, thinking it will help them lose weight (newsflash, Tesco’s products most certainly will not), it can actually be dangerous for coeliacs. The disease is not taken seriously, cross-contamination occurs – and people get sick. But ‘what is a gluten-free’, eh? I guess the advert may spur people to Google it and find out more then – hopefully.
Looking at it from the brand advertising side; if you’ve 40 seconds to advertise, what do you squeeze in there? Certainly, it’s not going to be vast details about coeliac disease (let’s face it, it’s hardly sexy consumerism from Tesco’s P.O.V), so don’t get me wrong – I get the humour. They could’ve just maybe just popped a little nod to coeliacs in there, but then again – they’re a corporate machine – what do they care?
One thing that did make me laugh was the noticeable lack of pricing – like normal adverts do – on the products. I’m sure if those buying the food saw that, they’d not be inviting the “gluten-free Latimers” over for Christmas dinner next year.
What are your thoughts? Are they taking the piss? Are they raising awareness? Are you going to stuff your face with profiteroles anyway?
As a coeliac sufferer I love the advert personally. I think we all have that one person in outer family or friendships that ” just doesn’t get it”
thank you tesco for acknowledging us.
I hear ya! But, to be fair – when I was diagnosed I didn’t have a clue what it was either…
Its good that they mentioned gluten-free products but they could have done a much better ad. It wasn’t really funny and a bit daft!
Big picture, I think it’s positive – for awareness and so on. I have a few reservations – use of the word ’emergency’, firstly, but also describing the family as the “gluten free Latimers” could be taken to mean they’re a faddy family by those already sceptical of the whole subject, but I’m being picky. Most coeliacs seem pleased, and I think whatever Tesco did in the very limited time of an ad was bound not to please everyone. When it comes to ads – especially Xmas ads – there are always people who love them, and those who hate them. It’s just the way it is. Hopefully it’s the start of many other ads in the future, which will also incorporate other dietary restrictions – DF, nut free, vegan and so on. It’s a start.
Very much agree, Alex! I do generally believe more awareness is a bad thing – it just needs to be made clear it’s not a diet fad. One great positive is that children with coeliac disease can feel a little less outcast because their food is on the telly!
Its good but they failed to mention that gluten free products are three times more expensive .