In an exclusive incident, Serlina Boyd, 42, and her children faced what she describes as racial profiling at a Tesco branch in Hampshire. Boyd, founder of Cocoa Girl and Cocoa Boy magazines celebrating Black children, was followed by two security guards. When she challenged them and asked for the manager, she was offered bananas, which she found offensive.

Boyd lodged a formal complaint with Tesco, questioning their diversity training. Tesco's response included an apology and a statement that relevant training had been refreshed where appropriate. Boyd condemned the response as insufficient.

"I avoid local supermarkets because I don’t want to be profiled," Boyd exclaimed. "Tesco and all supermarkets need to change how they treat Black people."

Boyd's magazines were once stocked in the store where the incident occurred. She expressed that Black people should not be treated like criminals and emphasised the need for fair treatment.

Following the incident, Tesco apologised but did not disclose details of their internal investigation or specific training actions. Boyd found the response inadequate.

A Tesco spokesperson expressed regret over Boyd's experience, stating, "We want all Tesco stores to be places where everyone feels welcome, and we are very sorry that, on this occasion, this was not the case."

Tesco, the UK’s largest private-sector employer, launched its Black Action Plan in 2021 to promote inclusivity for Black colleagues, customers, and suppliers. However, this incident adds to previous allegations of racial profiling faced by supermarkets, including Aldi and Sainsbury's. In past years, Tesco has been criticised for racially insensitive practices, such as security-tagging makeup for dark-skinned shoppers and falsely accusing Black customers of shoplifting.

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