Forget dating apps! Finland’s pink shopping baskets help you find love in the supermarket

If the thought of another dating app makes you want to throw your phone out of the window, and you’ve officially had enough of awkward speed dating nights and forced first dates, Finland may have come up with an unexpectedly charming alternative.

Instead of endless swiping, some Finnish supermarkets are encouraging singles to simply… pick up a pink shopping basket.

The quirky idea has gone viral around the world, with many wondering whether grocery shopping could become the new way to meet someone.

The pink basket that says ‘I’m single’

In selected supermarkets in Finland, shoppers can choose a bright pink basket known as a Sinkkukori, or “single basket”.

Rather than being just another shopping basket, it’s a subtle signal that the person carrying it is single and open to chatting with someone new while doing their weekly shop. The idea recently exploded across social media after travel creator Roya Fox shared a video explaining the concept, attracting millions of views.

The initiative is thought to suit Finland’s famously reserved culture, where striking up conversations with strangers isn’t always the norm.

Instead of making the first move in a bar, people can simply compare tomatoes, discuss pasta choices or laugh over who reached for the last cinnamon bun.

Social media loves it… mostly

As with every viral trend, the internet has had plenty to say.

Many people loved the idea, calling it “genius” and saying it felt far more natural than dating apps. Others admitted they’d happily travel to Finland just to try it.

But plenty also saw the funny side.

One commenter joked: “Imagine you grab one and nobody talks to you.”

Another wrote: “I’d probably pick the pink basket because it’s my favourite colour and have absolutely no idea why strangers were suddenly smiling at me.”

One Finland resident even admitted they’d been choosing the pink baskets simply because they looked nicer, completely unaware they might have been signalling they were looking for romance.

Spain already had its own supermarket dating craze

Of course, Spain beat Finland to turning supermarkets into unexpected matchmaking venues.

Last year’s viral Mercadona trend saw hopeful romantics placing an upside-down pineapple in their trolley between 7pm and 8pm to signal they were open to meeting someone. The craze spread rapidly across TikTok, with some stores reportedly becoming so busy that security and even police were called to manage crowds.

The internet was flooded with videos of people deliberately bumping trolleys in the aisles in the hope of starting conversations.

Reddit users later described it as largely a viral meme rather than an everyday reality, although many admitted plenty of people joined in for the fun of it.

And spare a thought for anyone innocently choosing the prettiest shopping basket or picking up a pineapple for pizza night. They may have wondered why they were suddenly attracting far more attention than expected.

From pineapples to pear rings: the world is getting creative

Finland’s pink baskets are far from the only sign that singles are looking for alternatives to endless swiping.

Elsewhere, singles have even started wearing a bright turquoise Pear Ring. There’s no app, QR code or technology involved. The ring simply tells the world its wearer is single and happy to be approached while going about everyday life, whether that’s grabbing a coffee, shopping or walking through the park. Its creators describe it as one of the world’s biggest social experiments, designed to make meeting people feel natural again.

In New York, running clubs have evolved into some of the city’s biggest singles events. Participants often wear different colours depending on whether they’re single, before heading for drinks after the run, proving that a 5K can now double as a first date.

Meanwhile, dating companies in cities including London have begun hosting blindfolded speed dating evenings, where participants spend several minutes talking without ever seeing one another. The idea is simple: remove appearances from the equation and let conversation create the first spark.

Even Japan has long embraced its own twist with gokon, group blind dates where friends introduce friends over dinner, creating a relaxed atmosphere that takes some of the pressure away from one-to-one dates.

Whether it’s carrying a pink basket, balancing a pineapple in your trolley or wearing a bright turquoise ring, the message seems to be the same. Around the world, people appear increasingly willing to try almost anything if it means escaping dating apps and meeting someone the old-fashioned way.

And if these trends continue, shoppers everywhere may soon need to think twice before choosing the prettiest basket in the supermarket. After all, you might only be popping in for milk, but accidentally signalling you’re looking for a soulmate.