Supermarket Giant Under Fire for Deceptive Advertising
- M&S reprimanded by ASA for misleading Christmas claim
- ASA criticized M&S’s use of Good Housekeeping survey
- ASA warns about future advertising practices
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has been reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for making misleading claims about their Christmas dinner prices. The ASA criticized M&S for using a Good Housekeeping survey as evidence, stating that it was ‘misleading’ because they had replaced a fresh turkey with a frozen one and a high-end cake with a cheaper alternative. Additionally, M&S failed to provide proof that other supermarkets made similar substitutions in their 2017 dinner. The ASA also took issue with another slogan claiming ‘We’re £10 cheaper than 2016’, as the dinner was not of the same quality. M&S responded by stating that the GHI (Good Housekeeping Institute) only required items to be within a certain weight/size category, not of a specific range or quality. The ASA ordered the ad to cease and warned M&S about future advertising practices, emphasizing that they must not suggest like-for-like comparisons without adequate evidence.
Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about M&S being reprimanded by the ASA for misleading advertising and includes relevant details from the investigation. It also presents the ASA’s concerns and warnings to M&S for future advertising practices.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about M&S being reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority for misleading advertising practices, but it lacks in-depth analysis or exploration of the consequences of such actions and does not offer much actionable insights or new knowledge.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Marks & Spencer (M&S)
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses a financial matter involving Marks & Spencer, a major supermarket chain, and their misleading advertising practices. This can impact the company’s reputation and potentially its financial performance.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article.
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