Change4life corner shop initiative goes national

Convenience stores across the UK will be encouraged to boost fruit and veg sales from today as the Government rolls out the “Change4Life corner shops” initiative.

Spar

Under the scheme shops such as Spar and Costcutter will be provided with Change4life marketing materials and encouraged to increase their fruit and veg range volume and prominence in-store to boost healthy eating.

In poorer areas the Department of Health will provide funding for chiller cabinets to increase availability of fruit and veg.

The DoH is also encouraging stores to assign a member of staff as a “fruit and veg champion.”

The roll-out follows a pilot scheme in 12 stores in the North East which has seen fruit and veg rise sales rise by an average of 40% since it launched last November, according to the DoH.

All 12 stores were given funding to buy new chiller display units and marketing materials by the Government in return for a promise to match funding.

The north-east trial has so far been rolled out to 88 stores in the region, falling short or the 120 target the Government initially planned to meet by May.

The roll-out, which was announced by health secretary Andy Burnham in a Newcastle Upon Tyne Spar branch this morning, has been organised in collaboration with The Association of Convenience Retailers.