A pair of St Andrews University students, who were stunned by a novel reply from Tesco after writing a poem complaining about the lack of popcorn in the town’s branch, have received special gifts from the supermarket giant.
Tomi Baike and Isabelle Bousquette, who have been sitting exams this week, were given blu-ray DVD players by Tesco Scotland corporate affairs manager Richard Holligan.
Isabelle, 20, who studies classics, and physics student Tomi, 18, wrote a sonnet lamenting the lack of salted caramel Butterkist and sent it to Tesco chief Sir Richard Broadbent in September.
The reply came back as a poem, pointing the students towards Dundee and Perth, and including a £10 giftcard.
Butterkist also sent them a giant supply of popcorn.
The Tesco PR manager told The Courier: “I’m afraid there’s no Christmas verse or carols coming from me today but hopefully these gifts are something that Tomi and Isabelle can enjoy with their friends.
“Their poem and Tesco’s reply really captured many people’s imaginations and the story put a smile on a lot of people’s faces across the business.
“We just wanted to say Merry Christmas and thank you to them for their creativity.”
Isabelle, from New York City, told The Courier: “We were thrilled to meet the regional manager of Tesco. We are also very excited that we finally got to meet the people that wrote Tesco’s response poem.
“It meant a lot to me to hear how my words put a smile onto their faces.
“That’s what poetry is meant to do, isn’t it? Every time we think this whole extravaganza is over, it seems to just get bigger.
“Butterkist actually sent us their own poem along with quite a large supply of popcorn.”