Melanie Sharma-Barrow from Llanelli, had a distressing experience at an Asda store in Cardiff that has deeply affected her. The incident has left her feeling too anxious to enter supermarkets again due to the fear of being confronted by security guards. Melanie, aged 46, accompanied by her 16-year-old and 14-year-old daughters, visited the Asda store in Leckwith on Tuesday, February 11. They were purchasing a £15 candle as a gift for their grandmother’s birthday. After paying for their items at the self-service checkout, Melanie and her daughters were smiled at by two female staff members as they were leaving. However, their positive experience took a drastic turn when a male employee approached them aggressively, demanding proof of purchase for the candle. Melanie was taken aback by the sudden suspicion directed at her daughter and felt targeted due to their race.
The shocking encounter left Melanie and her daughters traumatized. Melanie firmly believes that the incident occurred because of their racial background. Being a South Asian woman of colour, Melanie suspects she was subjected to racial profiling along with her mixed-race children. She expressed her dismay, stating, “To have this man run at us was so traumatic. The experience for myself and my two daughters was absolutely horrific. I’m just gaslit into thinking, ‘what did we do wrong?'” Melanie, who works as an inclusion specialist, sought answers from the staff member who stopped them but found the response unsatisfactory. In an attempt to address the situation, Melanie contacted the customer service team before returning to the store to make a formal complaint and return the candle that had soured the birthday celebration.
The response from the store’s supervisor was initially receptive as he acknowledged Melanie’s concerns and pledged to investigate the incident further. However, despite Melanie’s efforts to seek clarifications and closure, she has yet to receive a follow-up from Asda since the upsetting episode. The lack of a clear explanation or resolution from the supermarket has left Melanie distressed, leading her to decide never to shop at the Asda store in Leckwith again. The distressing encounter has left her feeling self-conscious and apprehensive about entering any shop for fear of facing similar discrimination. Reflecting on the ordeal, Melanie spoke of her disbelief at being unfairly targeted, emphasising that the experience has negatively impacted her and her daughters.
In response to the incident, an Asda spokesperson mentioned that staff may ask for proof of purchase if there are uncertainties about a transaction, although they endeavour to provide a positive shopping experience for all customers. Despite this statement, Melanie’s distressing encounter highlights the broader issue of racial profiling and discrimination that individuals from minority backgrounds can face in everyday situations. The lack of a satisfying resolution from the supermarket raises concerns about the handling of such incidents and the impact they have on customers. Melanie’s decision to share her distressing experience serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing racism and discrimination in all forms and the need for businesses to uphold inclusive practices.