Pineapple craze hits Mercadona
Image generated by Chat GPT
Spain’s 'pineapple-gate' sparks hopes of romance and shop chaos
A Spanish craze encouraging single people to seek partners in supermarkets by using a fruit-based code has caused some chaotic scenes and even led to the police being called to restore order.
In recent days, many single Spaniards have been drawn to branches of supermarket chain Mercadona between 7pm-8pm by claims they can find romance at that time, particularly if they put a pineapple upside down in their shopping trolley.
The phenomenon seems to have been driven in great part by the actor and humourist Vivy Lin, who posted a video on TikTok of her pushing a trolley around a Mercadona store talking about the supposed window.
“The time to hook up in Mercadona is 7pm to 8pm,” she said.
On its official TikTok account, the supermarket posted a pineapple with the caption: “The pineapple on the shelf of Mercadona waiting for you to get a date.”
The pineapple manoeuvre is reportedly completed by pushing your trolley into the wine section of the store and hoping that a person you find attractive responds positively.
As the story has gone viral, it has led to some unusual and sometimes disorderly sights.
In Madrid there have been reports of groups of teenagers pushing trolleys around stores in the evening, without buying products.
One man was dressed as a giant pineapple by his friends inside a store as part of his bachelor party celebrations.
In Bilbao, police were called to a branch of Mercadona during the 7pm-8pm time slot because of rowdy scenes inside, although they were not required to intervene.
A song, circulating online, has further driven the success of the trend, with the words: “In the wine section / My heart races / Looking for someone special / That my soul needs.”
However, there have been reports that the pineapple mania is not popular with many Mercadona employees who are left to clear up unpurchased goods.
One video showed a worker pushing boxes of the fruit away from shelves and towards a storeroom as 7pm approached.
The company says the trend was "not launched by us, it has *come about spontaneously”.
Some observers have taken a critical view.
“Falling into the clutches of a campaign designed through social media may be innocent, as is the case with ‘Pineapple-gate’, with all the jokes and childishness that it generates,” wrote social commentator Susana Quadrado in La Vanguardia newspaper.
But she warned it also showed how the virtual world “can condition social behaviour and turn users into loudspeakers for free”.
Phrasal Verbs:
"The company says the trend was "not launched by us, it has *come about spontaneously”".
come about - to happen, occur, or take place, often unexpectedly or by chance. It is typically used to describe the occurrence of events, changes, or situations (surgir, ocurrir, producirse)
- The changes in policy came about due to public pressure.
- The opportunity came about when I least expected it.
- How did such a situation come about in the first place?
Can you think of any other crazes that started off on the internet?
Comments
I ask myself if people have not another thing what to do. Well, we will take it as a joke.
Mercadona said that this phenomenon is spontaneous, but it´s a bit strange, because it costs so much to do an advertisement. Who gains? Mercadona, of course. The case is that an actress and humourist did a video with a pineapple in his trolley and then, it was fad. Since this moment, everyone started to buy pineapple in the Mercadona store. What was the reason? Because, it was a way to flirt with anyone, that is, if you want to flirt you have to go to buy a pineapple in Mercadona. I suppose that with this excuse the company would increase his sales.
The pineapple mania is fad and many singles may go to Mercadona to find romance and they may sing a song so cheesy like this that ends with “my soul needs”. This phenomenon comes about because some people have neediness to enjoy and to laugh, especially the Spanish who can´t stay still. For this reason the football resolves a lot of problems because it entertains people or not?
See you.
Every now and again there are entertaining fads that spring up on social media but as is the case with this one, the vast majority are just utter nonsense.
I ask myself if people do not have anything else to do / have nothing else/better to do. Well, let's just take it as a joke.
Mercadona said that this phenomenon is spontaneous, but it’s a bit strange because it costs a great deal to make an advert. Who benefits? Mercadona, of course. The case is that an actress/comedian made a video with a pineapple in her trolley, and then it became a fad. From that moment on, everyone started to buy pineapples in the Mercadona store. What was the reason? Because it was a way to flirt with others; that is, if you want to flirt, you have to buy a pineapple in/at Mercadona. I suppose that with this excuse the company would increase its sales.
The pineapple mania is a fad, and many singles may go to Mercadona to find romance, and they may sing a song as cheesy as one that ends with “my soul needs.” This phenomenon occurs because some people (have a) need to have fun and laugh, especially Spaniards, who can’t stay still. For this reason, football solves a lot of problems because it entertains people, doesn’t it?