Iceland has announced that all mums will be banned from entering its supermarkets across the UK this Sunday.
“That’s why mums go to Iceland”… or this Mother’s Day, that’s why they don’t.
The budget supermarket has been known nationwide for its popular marketing slogan and catchphrase – which was mostly made famous by Warrington’s-own Kerry Katona on its 2000s TV adverts – but for one day only, this Sunday on Mother’s Day, the retailer is flipping that phrase on its head, and is, instead, banning all matriarchs from its stores.
Mums will be prevented from entering all Iceland and Food Warehouse stores across the UK this Sunday 10 March, with the supermarket encouraging them to “put their feet up” instead.
Announcing the so-called ‘ban’ on its official social media platforms yesterday, Iceland wrote: “It’s a fact that mums go to Iceland, however for one day only, we’re asking that they don’t go to Iceland. Sunday 10 March is Mother’s Day, and we don’t want any mums visiting our Iceland or The Food Warehouse stores.
“Instead, we want those icons that should be celebrated this Sunday to put their feet up.”
Despite the Mother’s Day ‘ban’ – which is set to be lifted on the morning of Monday 11 March – the supermarket did add one small caveat at the end of its order to mums: “Having said that, if you need some emergency Yorkshire puddings, you’ve ran out of toilet roll, or you want to treat yourself to a tub of ice cream, we’ll let you in for a couple of minutes…”
Icleand bosses say the one-day ‘ban’ is being introduced to “deter hero mothering figures” from shopping on what should be a day they are “celebrated and treated like royalty”.
“We know how important mums are and we know that mum’s shop at Iceland,” admitted Richard Walker, who is the Executive Chairman of Iceland Foods, “but this Mother’s Day, for one day only, we’re asking that they don’t.
“Instead, send your loved ones, or alternatively, put it off till Monday.”
Iceland is banning mums from its UK supermarkets on Mother’s Day / Credit: Iceland
While many have seen the comical side of Iceland’s one-day-only themed stunt, and have viewed it only in good nature, others on social media have been a little more critical and have pointed out its lack of inclusivity when looked at it on the flip side.
Suggesting the retailer should take the post down, one person commented in response to Iceland on Instagram: “This isn’t going to land well. Mum’s who’ve lost babies? Single mums? Mums who work in your store? Working single dads can come then, even though they do it all already? Families without mums? Same sex families? Oh I could go on.”
Another critical commenter wrote: “What if they need food and they’re a single mum with a kid under 18 and there’s only them who can do the shopping? Good thinking Iceland.”
The retailer is encouraging mums to “put their feet up instead” during the one-day ban / Credit: Iceland
“Nice idea, but sadly so many flaws to it too,” a third wrote simply.
To counteract the critiques, others have defended the supermarket and emphasised that they see it for the “joke it is”.
“People need to learn to take a joke,” one commenter wrote on Instagram, while another said: “It’s tongue in cheek guys! Calm down and take it as that… jeez, some people love drama,” and a third wrote: “People have forgotten how to have fun and laugh”.
Despite the mixed response, and given the fact that it’s highly likely that it was intended as a marketing stunt and nothing more, Iceland doesn’t seem to be backing down from the move or retracting its statement.
Featured Image – Iceland
Shopping
Oasis merch prices as huge flagship stand opens in Manchester city centre
Daisy Jackson
An official Oasis merch stand has opened in the heart of Manchester, selling all the Gallagher-printed wares your heart could desire.
The Oasis Live ‘25 Touring Flagship Stand has sprung up on St Peter’s Square today, where it will remain for the duration of the Manchester reunion shows.
Stacked with everything from band tees to bucket hats, plus posters, tote bags, and that exclusive adidas x Oasis collection, the merch stand is already pulling in some serious queues.
And with a few days still to go until Oasis Live ‘25 hits Heaton Park (those dates, if they aren’t burned into your brain, are 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20 July) there’s still plenty more time to shop.
The merch stand has opened in addition to the official merch fan store across town in Spinningfields.
And it’s at the heart of the Music for the Senses art trail, which has seen painted guitar artworks installed all over the city centre.
Back to that Oasis merch stand in Manchester though – there are pieces from their adidas collection, including a sky blue (obviously) three-stripe long-sleeved jersey for £55, a tour jacquard football jersey for £85, and a classic Firebird track top for £90.
Event-specific merch like t-shirts in various colours emblazoned with the Oasis Live ‘25 artwork will set you back £40, and you can choose from photos of the brothers back together in 2025, or back in their pre-split heyday.
Oasis merch prices as huge flagship stand opens in Manchester city centre
There’s also a £70 black hoody with the tour dates on the sleeve, plus a What’s The Story blue-tone hoody for £70, and a blue tone sweatshirt for £50.
A range of posters starring Liam and Noel are priced at £40 apiece.
There’s an Oasis Live ‘25 tote bag for sale at the merch stand in town, which costs £20.
Then the most Manc item of all – a reversible bucket hat (black on one side with the Oasis logo in the centre, or a collage of Oasis logos on the other side) – is £35.
The stand is home to city-specific event items, exclusive adidas lines, and other exclusives.
The Oasis Live ’25 Touring Flagship Stand is open from 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 6pm on Sundays, then 10am to 7pm on Oasis show days.
Levi’s are the latest fashion brand to launch an Oasis collection
Danny Jones
In case you missed it amid the tidal wave of merch currently flooding our feeds and shops everywhere, global fashion brand Levi’s has become the latest label to launch an Oasis collection.
With the Live ’25 world tour now officially underway, it feels like not only are Oasis back on top, but that there’s a large-scale Britpop revival happening here in the UK and overseas.
In terms of fashion, the 1990s and early 2000s style has been steadily making its way into contemporary culture once again in recent years, but with seemingly every big name trying to hop on the marketing machine that is the Oasis reunion bandwagon, you can’t move for crossover.
Be they official collaborations like the one with Manchester City, adidas Originals; American fashion brand Abercrombie & Fitch bashing out merch, or a local t-shirt maker on Bury Market, that famous logo is absolutely everywhere – cue Levi’s latest launch:
Releasing just five or five main pieces (not including individual item variations), Levi’s Oasis gear has been kept pretty straightforward, simply relying on a less is more philosophy and the quality that the denim specialists are renowned for.
Nevertheless, there is an undeniably 90s feel to the approach.
As well as the standard Oasis band tee design, available in the brand’s main red, white and blue colour, as well as black, white and light blue – the Manchester City influences never stray too far, after all – there are a couple of other types of tee.
However, while we’re sure plenty of people might have a penchant for the parka, the undeniable star of the show for us is the Type II Trucker Jacket with the group’s name and ‘Live Forever’ stitched on the breast pocket.
Still, at £170, these sure-to-be collectors’ items don’t come cheap, and that’s not even the most expensive in the Levi’s x Oasis collection. Regardless, if you fancy treating yourself, you can find them here in Manchester and at the likes of The Trafford Centre.
Any of it pique your interest?
Don’t worry if not because, as mentioned, there is absolutely tonnes of Oasis clobber at various different price points all over the place at the minute.
Emily Sergeant -
5th March 2024 
