Lidl apologises in Sweden

The German discount supermarket chain, has been forced to issue an apology following revelations that workers at one of its Swedish stores deliberately poured cleaning fluids in rubbish to stop the homeless from stealing food.

 The Lidl employees poisoned the
discarded food at a local store near the Stockholm suburb of Solna
after they became tired of homeless people picking through their
trash bins. Though they had put up a warning sign near the bins,
contaminated food still disappeared after the staff poured the
poison.

Mathias Kivikoski, Lidl's chief
executive in Sweden, said: "We deeply regret what has happened
and this is not something the company recommends or permits."

Earlier this year, the Swedish consumer
ombudsman ruled that a marketing campaign run by Lidl was
inappropriate, as it forced customers to purchase alcohol to take
part in a competition.

The ombudsman ordered Lidl to
discontinue the promotion, as it violated provisions in Sweden's
alcohol laws which call for moderation when alcohol is marketed. Lidl stopped the campaign when the
ombudsman threatened the company with a 400,000 kronor (£34,321)
fine.