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Scotland 'leading the way' on healthy eating
13/11/2008
A Scottish scheme which promotes healthy eating through convenience stores is now inspiring a similar scheme in parts of England.
The Scottish Grocers' Federation Healthy Living Programme - backed by the Scottish Government - aims to improve the supply and provision of fresh produce and healthier food in convenience stores, particularly in deprived areas.
Currently, around 600 stores in Scotland are taking part in the scheme - almost half of them in the most deprived parts of Scotland.
Evaluation of the scheme, which began in 2004, found:
- 70 per cent of shoppers said the initiative in their store had encouraged them to buy more healthier produce
- 45 per cent of shoppers were buying more fresh produce than a year ago
- 41 per cent of shoppers said they would use their local convenience store as their first choice for fresh products
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:
"We're committed to doing everything we can to improve the health of all Scots. Eating a healthy diet and, particularly, introducing children to healthy eating is one way we can do this.
"This initiative has proved to be a valuable way to make fresh produce more accessible, by improving the range of fruit and veg available in local stores.
"It's great to see that the scheme's success has now been recognised further afield - this is another example where Scotland is leading the way."
The evaluation was conducted last year by Harris International Marketing.
The Department of Health announced today that their intiative would be rolled out in 12 stores in the North-east of England in a bid to emulate the success of the Scottish scheme.
Of the stores taking part in Scotland, 45 per cent are in the most deprived parts of the country and just 2.8 per cent in the most affluent.