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In a news article from Australia, a Kmart spokesperson said, "Kmart Australia regrets the decision to range the bride costume."

I checked various dictionaries including OED, but I could not find an appropriate explanation that makes sense in this sentence.

Is this a meaning unique in Australian English, or is this a typo?

Thanks!

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  • This is actually a very interesting question. My first impression was that you hadn't done enough research, but, I too, cannot find anything to support it.
    – David M
    Oct 24, 2019 at 4:10
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    It's not normal Australian English, but maybe it's retail jargon.
    – nnnnnn
    Oct 24, 2019 at 7:58

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The article refers to Kmart removing the costume after a petition was signed to have it removed. Kmart is saying they're sorry to have included it in their range of products they carry.

I, too, cannot find a reference to this particular use of the verb range. Even behind the paywall Macquarie's Dictionary of Australian English doesn't have it. However, I read the article and it's clear from context.

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    That's definitely a good answer. I found a similar but not identical definition from a New Zealand wholesaler which says "Product Ranging is the process we use to determine which products should appear on our supermarket shelves." This is maybe slightly different from the K-Mart usage but in the same area. foodstuffs-si.co.nz/media/98126/ranging_overviewdec17.pdf
    – Stuart F
    Oct 24, 2019 at 10:49

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