UK – Tesco, the UK’s retail giant, has witnessed a health-conscious shopping surge among its customers.
According to Tesco’s latest data, a staggering 3.3 million shoppers opted for at least 10 percent more healthy products in 2022, a trend attributed to strategic changes in product placement and promotions.
Tesco’s innovative Better Baskets campaign played a pivotal role in this transformation, driving a significant uptick in the volume of healthier product purchases.
The campaign’s impact is highlighted by a remarkable 12 percent increase in the volume of healthier items bought.
Furthermore, the retailer reported that over 500,000 shopping baskets now consist of at least 65 percent healthy products, reflecting a substantial shift in consumer preferences.
Ashwin Prasad, Tesco’s Chief Commercial Officer, lauded these changes as positive strides toward a healthier nation.
Key initiatives included the removal of products high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) from multibuy promotions, the introduction of signposting for healthier products, and product reformulation.
These measures empowered customers to make more informed and health-conscious choices, fostering a culture of wellness among shoppers.
These advancements coincide with legislative changes implemented for HFSS products, marking a pivotal moment in Tesco’s ongoing commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles.
The supermarket giant’s proactive approach aligns with a national focus on combating obesity, a health crisis straining the UK’s healthcare system.
Tesco’s holistic approach extends to the physical retail space. The Better Baskets zones, strategically placed in Tesco stores across the UK, provide shoppers easy access to products higher in fiber, lower in sugar and calories, and produced sustainably.
This innovative store layout aims not only to facilitate healthier choices but also to support eco-friendly consumer habits.
Elaine Hindal, CEO of the British Nutrition Federation, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to address the escalating health challenges arising from poor diets.
She praised Tesco’s dedication to fostering a healthier food environment and applauded the shared responsibility among retailers, suppliers, and partners.
Looking ahead, Tesco has set a target of achieving 65 percent healthy sales by 2025. The company is already making strong progress toward this goal, emphasizing the vital role of collaborative strategies in reshaping the future of food retail.
“The UK has record levels of obesity which is having a huge impact on the NHS and our wider economy, as well as jeopardising the long-term health and prospects of the next generation,” Prasad explained.
“At Tesco we have seen what’s possible when we create the conditions and incentives to help people to fill their baskets with products that are healthier and more sustainable, but still affordable. I’m encouraged by the progress so far and look forward to even greater collaboration with our suppliers and partners as we work towards our 2025 goal.”
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