SWEDISH budget clothing chain H&M has withdrawn a T-shirt bearing a logo in support of mayor and union leader Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo, who is facing trial for pillaging two supermarkets to feed Spanish people living in poverty.
The multinational launched the top on Friday, which shows a hand grasping an ear of maize and the words, "Food to the people!!! No world hunger *Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo*."
But given the controversy it has sparked, the store has decided to take it off sale.
Textile firm Weekday, which owns H&M, says its 'intention' was 'never to take sides' and that they are 'sorry if any customers have felt offended'.
It formed part of their new collection named 'Zeitgeist', which translates roughly as 'spirit of the times', and reflected Sánchez Gordillo's new cult hero status for organising supermarket raids to feed the poor.
Hailed by some as the 'Robin Hood of Spain', the member of the Andalucía Workers' Union (Sindicato Andaluz de Trabajadores) was involved in raids on Carrefour and Mercadona.
Mercadona was most upset about the situation, saying it already does its bit for charity and does not need to be robbed to force it to do so.
The Valencia-based chain is considered to be among the country's most socially-responsible employers, offering a minimum full-time wage for all staff of 1,200 euros per month after tax, favourable working hours, no Sunday trading other than in rare exceptional cases - such as when a string of public holidays coincide all at once - and free crèches in some of its larger branches for staff members' children.
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