Move by
retailer welcomed by health and parenting groups and backed, according to
survey, by two-thirds of customers
 |
| Tesco was the first British supermarket to remove sweets and chocolates from checkouts at larger stores, in 1994. Photograph: Robert Convery/Alamy |
The UK's
largest retailer, Tesco, is to ban sweets and chocolates from its checkouts
after a survey of customers showed overwhelming support for the move.
Research
for Tesco found that 65% of shoppers wanted confectionery removed from
checkouts to help them make healthier choices when shopping. Even more (67%)
said it would help them choose healthier options for their children.
Tesco
removed sweets and chocolates from checkouts at its 740 larger Tesco stores 20
years ago, but they will now be removed from checkouts at all stores, including
1,800 Tesco Metro and Express convenience stores in Britain and Ireland. The
retailer committed to removing them by the end of December 2014, but has
brought forward the move after surveying its customers.
Its chief
executive, Philip Clarke, said the decision followed a commitment to make soft
drinks, sandwiches and ready meals healthier by changing the recipes to reduce
their sugar, salt and fat content. "We all know how easy it is to be
tempted by sugary snacks at the checkout, and we want to help our customers
lead healthier lives," Clarke said.
Tesco was
the first British supermarket to remove sweets and chocolates from checkouts at
larger stores, in 1994. The retailer will now test a variety of healthier
products at checkouts before implementing the full change across all stores.
 |
| A self-service checkout in a branch of Tesco on Goodge Street, London. Photograph: Alamy |
In January,
Lidl banned confectionary from the checkout at all 600 of its British stores
after surveying parents. It replaced racks of sweets with dried and fresh
fruit, oatcakes and juices.
Health
campaigners and parents' groups welcomed Tesco's move. Katie O'Donovan of
Mumsnet said: "Popping into a shop with a small child in tow can sometimes
feel like navigating an assault course. If you've made it to the checkout in
one piece it can be really frustrating to then be faced with an unhealthy array
of sweets designed to tempt your child. It's really positive to see a
supermarket responding to the views of their customers and trying to make life
that little bit easier."
Ben
Reynolds of the food and health charity Sustain agreed. "Parents will be
delighted to hear that they will no longer be pestered for fatty, salty and
sugary snacks while queuing at the checkout in their local Tesco. We hope that
other supermarkets will now follow Lidl and Tesco's lead, and realise that
taking action to improve children's health is not something to fear."
Tesco was
among those criticised in research published in January which found that
convenience stores run by big supermarket chains involved in the government's
responsibility deal on nutrition were exposing children to displays of sweets
and snack food at the checkout.
Researchers
from Sheffield University visited the smaller stores of Asda, Sainsbury's and
Tesco in the city and discovered what harassed parents often complain of – that
the queue for the checkout often passes shelves laden with chocolate bars,
drinks and sweet snacks at children's eye level.
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