<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619718610651.jpeg" alt="PETA supporters showed up at the 14th and Main Dillons location Thursday to protest monkey abuse. Supporters chanted against monkey abuse carried out in Thailand by a coconut milk brand." />
 <figcaption>PETA supporters showed up at the 14th and Main Dillons location Thursday to protest monkey abuse. Supporters chanted against monkey abuse carried out in Thailand by a coconut milk brand.</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAREN DUNN <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A quiet noon hour at the 14th and Main Dillons was disrupted by PETA protesters Thursday.Three
 protesters arrived in a white rental van just before noon. Marley 
Delgado, Luis Correal and a member who wished to remain anonymous 
unloaded two wheelbarrows filled with coconuts.Correal and the 
anonymous supporter were dressed in monkey outfits to protest Chaokoh, a
 brand that PETA says uses monkeys to inhumanely pick coconuts in 
Thailand.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619719018508.jpeg" alt="The coconut milk from Chaokoh is sold at Dillons on 14th and Main. This is the only product PETA organizers were protesting against." />
 <figcaption>The coconut milk from Chaokoh is sold at Dillons on 14th and Main. This is the only product PETA organizers were protesting against.</figcaption>
 </figure>PETA supporter Marley Delgado said the trio was there "urging the company to stop profiting off forced monkey labor." Delgado says a PETA Asia investigation found the coconut industry is using monkey labor to pick the coconuts and traced it back to Chaokoh. The group is asking Kroger to remove the brand from all of its stores.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619719964870.jpeg" alt="PETA members arrive at Dillons Thursday. The members arrived just before the noon hour in a white rental van." />
 <figcaption>PETA members arrive at Dillons Thursday. The members arrived just before the noon hour in a white rental van.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Dillons location was blindsided. The manager on duty was simply 
covering for a store that currently does not have a manager. The manager
 on duty called the local media contact, Sheila Regehr, and she began 
her journey to the store."Dillons supports cruel monkey labor," the trio chanted. "There's no excuse for animal abuse," they added.Shoppers were surprised to see the disruption. One shopper who wishes
 to remain anonymous called it a waste of time. "I don't want to lose my
 fuel points!" the shopper said when asked for a name. He questioned why
 the demonstration was not at the courthouse or a distribution center.Supporters chose the Main Street location because it faced a busy street and had a public sidewalk that entered the store.PETA
 plans to visit more Kroger-owned stores until it joins the likes of 
28,000 other stores that have stopped profiting off cruel, forced monkey
 labor.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619720908511.jpeg" alt="PETA protesters chant different phrases against monkey labor Thursday in front of Dillons on Main Street. Organizers said monkeys used by Chaokoh are caged and chained their whole lives." />
 <figcaption>PETA protesters chant different phrases against monkey labor Thursday in front of Dillons on Main Street. Organizers said monkeys used by Chaokoh are caged and chained their whole lives.</figcaption>
 </figure>"The coconuts that are in Chaokoh are picked by monkeys who are stolen from their families just as babies. They're kept caged and chained their whole lives. They can sometimes have their canine teeth removed so they're unable to defend themselves. And they are forced to pick coconuts all during the harvest season," Delgado said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619719935320.jpeg" alt="Luis Correal holds a sign condemning the use of monkey labor. Protesters chanted, "Dillons supports cruel monkey labor," and "There's no excuse for animal abuse," while in front of the store." />
 <figcaption>Luis Correal holds a sign condemning the use of monkey labor. Protesters chanted, "Dillons supports cruel monkey labor," and "There's no excuse for animal abuse," while in front of the store.</figcaption>
 </figure>None of the protesters are from Hutchinson. In fact, none of them are
 from Kansas. Delgado is from Denver, Colorado, while Correal is from 
Atlanta, Georgia. The unnamed member hails from Portland, Oregon. The 
trio arrived in Hutchinson Wednesday and purchased the ethically-sourced
 coconuts that were picked humanely, then scattered in front of the 
Dillons entrance.Delgado confirmed the group would pick up the coconuts after the demonstration. She said the coconuts would then be donated.About
 30 minutes into the planned one-hour demonstration, Sheila Regehr of 
Dillons showed up on the scene. She kindly asked the protesters to move 
the demonstration to a public place.Regehr declined to comment on the situation until a proper statement could be released to the media.Around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Regehr released the following statement:“Kroger
 has a longstanding commitment to responsible business practices, 
including the humane treatment of animals. We have re-engaged our 
suppliers, as well as other stakeholders, on this issue to re-confirm 
they are also protecting animal welfare.”

PETA supporters dressed as monkeys protest at Kan. Dillons