Volvic scrap ‘Orange and Proud’ poster for mineral water in Scotland amid fears it would incite bigotry
Posted By: August 14, 2016
BOSSES at the drinks company fear the slogan would be linked to the Orange Order, an exclusively Protestant organisation, and cause offence to Catholics
A DRINKS company have scrapped a poster for mineral water in Scotland amid fears it would incite religious bigotry.
Volvic launched an advertising campaign to promote their bottled orange-flavored drink.
But manufacturers won’t be sending their “Orange and Proud” bills north of the Border – despite the product being available in shops.
Volic’s Orange and Proud campaign
Bosses fear the slogan would be linked to the Orange Order, an exclusively Protestant organisation, and cause offence to Catholics.
They have also decided to keep the poster out of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Instead the campaign – which features a smiling model with ginger hair – will only appear on bus shelters and advertising boards in England.
Volvic is produced by French firm Danone – one of the world’s largest food and drink manufacturers.
The firm, who produce Evian mineral water, took in more than £4billion from water sales last year.
A source said: “It’s a shame that something as harmless as a poster promoting an orange drink could be interpreted as favoring a religious organization.”
Former mobile phone firm Orange had difficulty expanding in Northern Ireland due to their “The future’s bright – the future’s Orange” slogan.
The Grand Orange Order of Scotland yesterday criticized Danone’s decision to keep the campaign out of Scotland.
Grand Secretary Edward Hyde said: “Deciding not to display these posters Scotland is a silly decision and a huge over-reaction.”
Danone said: “We were aware of issues so these posters will not appear anywhere in Scotland and Ireland.”
