Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a very high-profile celebrity chef who was also a partner in my company's US operations was accused of/admitted to some pretty bad sexual misconduct (mom's first comment was "It took this long? He always came across as a pig."). Very shortly after the news broke and the other celebrity-chef partner among others spoke out very emphatically against him, he announced that he was cutting ties with the company for good. I wouldn't be surprised if the founders/board forced that decision.
As a result, all of his branded products were immediately pulled from the shelves...J was happy about this for another reason as it reclaimed badly needed space (and we could recommend small-producer products with a higher success rate). Any complaints about the decision (past noncommittal "oh, ok") were to go to him or the retail GM.
Occasionally, I still get a few SCs demanding his products; most are fine with my answer that "he is no longer affiliated with us and we are no longer selling his products". And then there was this guy...
I'm running around like a madman yesterday (pretty much only me for a giant delivery of sale products that were being snapped up as fast as I could stock them PLUS our regular truck, plus customer help, plus etc) when I'm approached by a new-money arrogant jerk.
Jerk: "Are you out of the [chef] tomato sauce?"
Me: "We no longer carry his products. I can suggest a few other producers that I use and like. What flavors are you looking for?"
Jerk: "Is this because of the 'scandal'?" (said in a sneering/mocking tone)
Me: "Yes. If you want further information you will have to speak to a manager." (J gave this directive mainly because he can put assholes in their place without any blowback, and the managers know more than the worker bees)
Jerk: "That's ridiculous. That was no big deal, everyone should just suck it up. You should carry his sauces, they're very popular."
*'no big deal'? OK, shut this down now*
Me: "We don't carry them anymore and will not. BigChain still has them. Feel free to take our decision up with Corporate, I have work to do and I refuse to argue with you." as I pick up 40 pounds of canned tomatoes (I could see the jerk's eyes bug out) and relocate to another endcap.
As a result, all of his branded products were immediately pulled from the shelves...J was happy about this for another reason as it reclaimed badly needed space (and we could recommend small-producer products with a higher success rate). Any complaints about the decision (past noncommittal "oh, ok") were to go to him or the retail GM.
Occasionally, I still get a few SCs demanding his products; most are fine with my answer that "he is no longer affiliated with us and we are no longer selling his products". And then there was this guy...
I'm running around like a madman yesterday (pretty much only me for a giant delivery of sale products that were being snapped up as fast as I could stock them PLUS our regular truck, plus customer help, plus etc) when I'm approached by a new-money arrogant jerk.
Jerk: "Are you out of the [chef] tomato sauce?"
Me: "We no longer carry his products. I can suggest a few other producers that I use and like. What flavors are you looking for?"
Jerk: "Is this because of the 'scandal'?" (said in a sneering/mocking tone)
Me: "Yes. If you want further information you will have to speak to a manager." (J gave this directive mainly because he can put assholes in their place without any blowback, and the managers know more than the worker bees)
Jerk: "That's ridiculous. That was no big deal, everyone should just suck it up. You should carry his sauces, they're very popular."
*'no big deal'? OK, shut this down now*
Me: "We don't carry them anymore and will not. BigChain still has them. Feel free to take our decision up with Corporate, I have work to do and I refuse to argue with you." as I pick up 40 pounds of canned tomatoes (I could see the jerk's eyes bug out) and relocate to another endcap.
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