The glossy monthly, launched last year and currently selling about 30,000 copies per issue, is stocked in Borders and WHSmith but was this week told by Tesco that its erotic fiction and sexy features were a turn-off, according to magazine officials. The magazine includes adult features and articles covering a broad range of women’s sexual and relationship issues as well.
Publisher Gavin Griffiths told pressgazette.co.uk that he hoped Tesco officials might change their minds in the future. He said he is "very disappointed" at the decision.
"If you look at titles like Nuts and Zoo, they are just pornography,” Griffiths said. “I don't understand why they are allowed on the shelves but erotica for women isn't. Tesco is the biggest supermarket, and getting on its shelves is hugely important for us. I want as many women as possible to be able to read Scarlet."
Tesco last week caused controversy after it decided to introduce a range of battery-powered sex rings made by Durex. According to industry insiders, a decision to stock a sexually explicit magazine might be considered unwise following the coverage.
However, a spokeswoman for Tesco said the decision not to stock the title was based on space and timing. She added that the company had not said no to a long-term agreement and might consider adding “Scarlet” to its list in May next year.