ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has been recognised as a green pledger in the 2023 Peas Please Progress Report, highlighting the essential role that local shops play in providing communities with a healthy food provision.
The report outlines the milestones that the initiative has achieved since it launched in 2017, including:
- 1.1billion cumulative additional portions of veg sold or served
- 110 organisations have become pledgers
- 660,843 people have been reached through the Veg Cities campaign
Findings from ACS’ Voice of Local Shops Survey November 2023 of 1,100 independent retailers found that nearly of quarter of retailers offer a wider range of healthy products than they did 12 months ago and 19% of independent retailers reported that sales of healthy products had increased over the past year.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Convenience retailers are committed to providing their customers with access to a wide range of food to feed their families, including fruit, vegetables and other healthy options.
“Over the years the sector has demonstrated its commitment to healthy eating through proactive involvement in a number of initiatives including Change4Life, Healthy Start and Peas Please. We are proud to have been recognised as a green pledger and will continue to engage with the campaign and its aim to increase veg consumption.”
More information about Peas Please is available here: https://foodfoundation.org.uk/initiatives/peas-please
