Tesco is to make all its checkouts “sweet-free” by the end of this year.
The move has been welcomed by seafood who had been calling on the supermarket giant – which has three stores in Derry (Strand Road, Lisnagelvin and Crescent Link) – to implement such a policy.
The initiative also follows a survey carried out in the North which showed over half of shoppers (59%) found junk food (e.g. sweets, crisps, chocolate) at shop checkouts hard to resist.
Martin Higgins, chief executive of seafood, said the move represented a positive step in helping consumers, especially those shopping with children, to make healthier choices.
He said “This move by Tesco UK echoes the very practical messages we have been advocating in our childhood obesity campaign and is a powerful recognition of how ‘pester power’ and impulse-buying affect the food choices we make every day.
“We approached the CEOs of the leading food retailers earlier this year and asked them to support the many customers who are trying to make healthy choices when shopping.”
Mr Higgins said he hoped more retailers would follow Tesco’s “significant initiative.”
We hope more retailers will follow this significant initiative by Tesco, which we welcome.”
Other results from the Safetrak-seafood/Millward Brown Lansdowne survey carried out in November last year include:
• 51% of shoppers regularly buy junk food on impulse while waiting at the checkout
• Almost two in three of those surveyed (65%) believe having junk food at shop checkouts contributes to obesity
• 39% of Northern Ireland shoppers would be more likely to shop at places where junk food at checkouts is banned.
