/ 14 February 2005

Get frisky at the fruit counter

A Sydney shopping mall launched a “cereal dating” night at its supermarket on Monday, telling singles to come “get frisky at the fruit counter” for a Valentine’s night out.

Management at the upmarket Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs suggested singles eager to meet a kindred soul cruise the supermarket aisles with message-sending breakfast-cereal boxes perched on their carts.

“Choosing the correct cereal is crucial, with different cereals attracting different mates,” Westfield said at a press release announcing the launch of its Monday singles’ nights.

For “cereal virgins”, they explain that boxes of Fruit Loops signal a “quirky, outrageous type that lives life on the edge”, while carrying All Bran or Mini Wheats attracts “dependable, regular, conservative types”.

“For those that don’t really care, a variety pack will show that the shopper is willing to chat to anyone.”

A 2004 census found that 50,2% of Sydney’s women and 40% of men have never married.

Westfield said its cereal dating nights will whip these “time-starved” singles “into a passionate frenzy as they get frisky at the fruit counter and find passion at the preserves”. — AFP