A 79-year-old great-grandmother from Hook, Hampshire, is appealing a nationwide lifetime ban from all Sainsbury's and Argos stores.
Rita Seymour received a formal prohibition notice earlier this month after management cited a history of behavioral incidents.
The restriction forces the local resident to seek alternative grocery options, extending her weekly travel time significantly.
Walking to her closest Sainsbury's takes five minutes, whereas the nearest Tesco branch requires a 20-minute journey.
The confrontation escalated during a weekly shopping trip when Seymour attempted to buy a EuroMillions ticket.
She claimed she had to ask multiple times before a staff member responded, leading to an argument where managers accused her of insulting staff and taking food.
Seymour, who previously worked in customer services, denied the allegations and stated she intends to fight the decision to clear her reputation.
"I'm not interested in money.
But I live five minutes away from the shop, and I would like this ban lifted," said Seymour.
The pensioner noted that she has resided in the area since 1981 and usually spends between £80 and £100 per week at the branch.
She alleged that an employee attempted to photograph her during the confrontation, which prompted her to push the camera away.
"She went to take a picture of me, and I pushed her camera out of her face," said Seymour.
When Seymour returned the following day, staff denied her entry and presented the written ban.
Seymour, who cares for her disabled husband, maintains that no previous issues ever occurred at the location.
"I've done nothing wrong here, you're not taking pictures of me," said Seymour.
Supermarkets operate as private property and retain the legal right to refuse service or bar individuals to ensure safety, provided the action does not violate anti-discrimination laws.
Common grounds for such restrictions include theft, antisocial behavior, or aggression toward staff.
"I'm not that sort of person, I never cause trouble, I never do any trouble – they're saying it to get out of everything.
I want to clear my name," said Seymour.
Sainsbury's management defended the enforcement, emphasizing that employee safety remains a priority.
The corporate office confirmed that the decision was based on multiple recorded events over an extended period.
"We want everyone to feel welcome when they shop with us, and our colleagues work hard to create a positive in-store experience.
We take any form of abusive and inappropriate behaviour seriously," said a Sainsbury's spokesperson.
The retailer stated that the final decision to withdraw shopping privileges from the Hook location was thoroughly reviewed before implementation.
"Following a number of incidents over time, a decision was taken to withdraw this individual's right to shop at our Hook store.
This action was not taken lightly, but the safety and well-being of colleagues and customers always come first," said a Sainsbury's spokesperson.
