The Co-Operative Group introduces 'modesty' bags across its stores, but Zoo, Nuts and The Sunday Sport decline to cover up using them
The Co-Operative will today ban so-called ‘lads mags’ from its shelves after the publishers refused to use sealed ‘modesty’ bags to hide their covers from display.
Magazines such as Nuts, Zoo and The Sunday Sport newspaper will all be impacted by the supermarket chain’s decision, taken in June, to ask them to cover up or else not be stocked.
Steve Murrells, chief executive of retail for The Co-operative Group, said that the decision had been taken having listened to members and customers.
"We believe individual, sealed modesty bags are the most effective way of addressing these concerns, so we will no longer be stocking the titles that have failed to meet our request,” he continued.
"This action will make our stores more attractive to families with young children, by creating a more family-friendly shopping environment."
The Co-Op has said that it will continue to sell Loaded magazine however, after its publishers agreed to use the ‘modesty’ bags.
In July, Loaded's editor Jamie Wallis, released a statement explaining why the title had agreed to use the bags, stating: “At loaded, we take great care with our covers, including sending them, via our distributor, to supermarkets for their approval.
“As the original men’s magazine, we pride ourselves in adhering to the guidelines set out by supermarkets. In recent months, our covers have portrayed imagery and wording in line with women’s lifestyle and fitness magazines, as well as men’s titles including FHM, Esquire and GQ.”
He added that Loaded covers were “no more overtly sexual than adverts in newspapers and on television shown before the 9pm watershed.”
Nuts also responded, by tweeting statement headlined 'Hands off our Nuts! and accusing the pressure group behind the move, Feminista of aiding censorship.