Full Breakdown
Gender-Segregated Queues Spark Controversy at Romford’s Masala Bazaar
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
During the third-anniversary celebration of the Masala Bazaar supermarket in Romford, shoppers were observed forming separate lines for men and women. Video recorded on August 28 shows staff handing out complimentary bottles of vegetable oil while customers queued in gender-divided rows. The promotion continued through the event period, which ran from August 26 to 31, with additional items such as meat joints and frozen fish distributed to shoppers.
Background and Demographic Context
Romford, historically a predominantly white working-class suburb, has experienced notable demographic change. Census data indicate the white-identified population fell from 95.2 % in 2001 to 75.3 % today, while the Asian-identified share rose from 2.1 % to 10.7 %. These shifts have encouraged businesses like Masala Bazaar, which specializes in halal meat and South Asian groceries, to establish a presence in the area.
Store Management Response
Store manager Zayuber told the Daily Mail that the gender-segregated queues were not planned. He explained that the anniversary event attracted large crowds during a “power hour” when free gifts were offered, leading staff to ask customers to line up but not to dictate where to stand. According to a colleague, the two lines formed spontaneously as a way to distribute items more efficiently amid the crowd, and no instructions were given to separate shoppers by sex.
Public Reaction
A shopper reported to the Daily Mail that some married couples deliberately stood apart to collect promotional items individually. A local woman who works at a nearby gym expressed that the length and organization of the queues would deter her from returning to the store, noting she had never witnessed such a setup elsewhere. One online commenter remarked that no law requires England to adopt sex-segregated queues.
Business Profile and Statistics
Masala Bazaar operates under the Euro Foods Group, founded by Bangladeshi-born British businessman Shelim Hussain, whose wealth is estimated at £105 million. The chain includes additional locations in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, catering to the growing South Asian communities across the United Kingdom.