Marks & Spencer has put the welfare of shoppers first, halting the sale of disposable barbecues throughout the UK. M&S mentioned it needed “to assist defend open areas and cut back the chance of fires”.
London Hearth Brigade, which has been calling for a ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, mentioned the transfer was “excellent news”.
It comes after the UK skilled its hottest day ever, with 40C exceeded for the primary time.
Dozens of areas noticed temperatures above the earlier file of 38.7C, and 15 fireplace companies declared main incidents due to a surge in blazes. An M&S spokesperson mentioned that the transfer got here into impact earlier this week.
The grocery store mentioned: “We’d already stopped promoting disposable barbecues close to nationwide parks and in London however given the unusually sizzling and dry circumstances, we’ve taken the precautionary step of eradicating them from sale throughout the UK.”
The London Hearth Brigade had already warned folks in opposition to utilizing barbecues in open areas, grassland or balconies, notably after the current heatwave.
Final week, its commissioner Andy Roe referred to as for disposable barbecues to be taken off the cabinets throughout Britain.
It got here after the London Hearth Brigade skilled its busiest day since World Battle Two, coping with a number of blazes within the record-breaking temperatures.
Welcoming the choice by M&S, London Hearth Brigade mentioned: “We wish to work with retailers to cease the sale of disposable barbecues and cut back the chance of harmful grass fires.”
Retail analyst Jonathan de Mello mentioned he anticipated comparable bulletins to observe from different supermarkets.
“This transfer by M&S will put strain on their retail friends to observe swimsuit,” he mentioned.
“With a number of grass fires brought on by these barbecues given the unprecedented sizzling climate we’ve got seen prior to now few weeks, M&S have rightly determined to place public security first,” he added.
“M&S are sometimes seen as a bellwether for UK retailers, and hopefully different retailers will observe their lead.”
