Get Involved
What's it all about?
The healthy eating project is part of the Government’s wider strategy to make us all live healthier lives and to halt the rising tide of obesity. If we do nothing, experts say that by 2050, 90 per cent of today's children will be overweight and at risk from serious diseases and this is likely to cost the NHS an estimated £50 billion.
In the North East 12.5 per cent of children aged 2-15 are obese, with a further 15.5 per cent qualifying as overweight. In adults 61 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women are overweight or obese.
Under the banner of ‘Change4Life’, the Government are aiming to bring about a lifestyle revolution involving thousands of local organisations and charities which will help mums, dads and families eat well, move more and live longer.
What's next?
As a result of the successful first stage of the healthy eating project, ACS has facilitated an agreement with DH that essentially means we can offer members the opportunity to undertake these changes to their businesses and in turn to benefit from the branding and publicity associated with Change4Life.
Please see the list below, initiatives marked (*) would be required as part of an agreement, others would be optional and encouraged:
- extending the space given to fruit and vegetables,
- appointing a fresh food champion in each store to manage this category*,
- using Change4Life branding at the heart of the fruit and vegetables offer*,
- introducing a fruit & vegetables local marketing plan*,
- reviewing range of fruit and vegetables*
- re-siting fruit and vegetables in a more prominent position in store.
A Fresh Approach
ACS has now produced a guide to help you to get started on Change4Life and to give you some simple ideas for improving sales of fruit & veg in your store. It’s available free of charge from us here.
We are also working with Retail Plus to offer a more detailed training workbook on retailing fruit and veg. If you need more help to train staff, this workbook is a great way of getting display, stock management and merchandising spot on. To order your workbook or for more details, click here.
In the first instance retailers should register their interest by phoning Lorraine Williams at the ACS office on 01252 515001.