Spreading the word...

[thistlechaser]

If you happen to use dried pasta and pasta products, you might want to avoid Barilla. Boxes look like this:


Activists in Italy have called for a boycott of leading pasta brand Barilla after its chairman said he would not use gay people in adverts.

Guido Barilla, chairman of the company of the same name, told a radio interviewer the concept of the "classic" family was fundamental.

If gay people disliked the concept, he said, they could "eat another brand".

Link here.

It's kind of boggling that in this day and age that someone would say that. I'm not surprised that he felt that or planned not to hire gay actors, but to outright say it and tell customers they could go elsewhere? Someone needs to be sent for PR training.

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

My family and I will be switching to another brand. Too bad, I liked Barilla.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Same. It had been my brand of choice, too.

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

Damn, I liked Barilla pasta, but I think I'd gag on it now. Switching brands for sure.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Same, they were my favorite. Sadly, I had liked their advertising, too.

[kamalloy.livejournal.com]

Ah, crap, that's the type we usually buy. Welp, they can have two fewer customers!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep, same. Never again!

By the way, know how I can't comment on your LJ? It's happened again, though in a different way: For one single person on my friends list, my work network blocks their 'leaving a comment' page as being NWS. I can look at their main LJ, I can look at the comment page, but leave a comment? NOPE! I don't get it at all...

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

I always used Barilla, I preferred it over the other brands available here ... but no longer! Am going to throw out the box I have in my pantry.

San Remo brand here I come.

[kamalloy.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't throw it out. The money has already been paid for it. Might as well not waste food.

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

Good point, I do hate waste. Just won't buy it any more.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Agreed, no use throwing out the stuff you have now, since they already have your money.

Luckily there are lots of other brands to choose from!

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

Very true.

And many, many brands as an alternative I agree.

[voidmagus.livejournal.com]

Noted. Will avoid their products in the future, though I typically prefer to use pasta from a local bakery/pasta house. Gotta grab some spinach fettucini from them today for a party tommorrow (carbonara!)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Local is the better choice for many reasons! Most of the time, anyway.

Mmm I bet that will come out well!

[tersa.livejournal.com]

As much as I want to vote for my wallet, their yellow box brand is the only one I've found with a good protein::carb ratio, so if I'm going to eat pasta, it's going to be Barilla.

That said:

It's kind of boggling that in this day and age that someone would say that.

It isn't, when you consider the fact that the protests are occuring in Italy suggest he's Italian and how Catholic and conservative that country is.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

On the plus (or minus) side, one person's purchases won't be noticeable, so if you have to, it likely won't matter much.

And good point...

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

We buy our home-made pasta and all such goods from Raffettos (est. 1906!). Enormously superior to the boxed products, fresh and costs no more and often less. This is true of their cheeses too, from parmesean to smoked mozarilla. They have their factories and a farm in New Jersey, from which they get the diary that goes into the cheeses. Other products they import from family in Italy.

Love, C.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That sounds like the best option! I almost never eat pasta, but next time I do, I need to look for a good place like that.

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

I hope the next generation can keep this going. It's an enormous job and the profit margin can't be large. Though they sell retail here in one very small store in my neighborhood, most of what they do is supply other authentic Italian sections of high end groceries and specialty food stores.

Love, C.

[wow-hazmat.livejournal.com]

We usually buy whatever the store brand is, 'cause we're cheap bastids, but I know Barilla and for sure as heck I won't be buying them even if I decide to splurge with a proper brand. :P

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Good! There are so many other options to choose from. :D

[aberdeen.livejournal.com]

Bertolli is apparently capitalizing on this by creating some, um, more openminded advertising.

http://instinctmagazine.com/post/gay-friendly-bertolli-makes-most-barillas-homophobic-pr-mess

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hahaha that's great!