Pink shopping baskets have started appearing in supermarkets across Finland, and footage of them has been circulating widely online. The baskets, which sit alongside the standard trolleys at store entrances, have a specific purpose and are not intended for every shopper.
A basket with a message
The pink baskets are labelled with the Finnish word sinkkukori, a combination of sinkku (single) and kori (basket), which translates literally to "single's basket." Shoppers who pick one up are signalling, discreetly, that they are unattached and open to meeting someone else doing their weekly shop at the same time.
A video posted on Wednesday, 22 July, to the Bizna TV YouTube channel showed footage, reportedly filmed the previous Sunday, of the pink baskets lined up at the entrance of a supermarket in Helsinki, ready for customers to choose before starting their shop.
How shoppers have responded
The idea has drawn attention from content creators based in Finland, several of whom have posted their own videos on the trend. One woman told Bizna TV that she uses the baskets and finds the concept enjoyable, comparing it to a dating app, but one that operates inside a supermarket, adding that she hopes it eventually helps her meet someone.
Reactions have not been universally positive. One local resident recounted that a friend had picked up a pink basket by mistake, unaware of its purpose, and was subsequently approached by another shopper. He said he personally was not keen on the concept. Other customers were more receptive, with one describing the idea as natural and pleasant.
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Supporters of the initiative argue it offers a more organic way to meet people than swiping through dating apps, and the trend has drawn attention well beyond Finland's borders as videos continue to spread online.
Source: LiFO, with information from Bizna TV and Delish
