Tesco shoppers have only a few days left to take advantage of the store's free fruit scheme, which allows children to pick up a free apple at the checkout until August 30.
Free apples available at hundreds of stores
The popular supermarket brought back its free fruit for kids programme as the summer holidays started in July. Children can pick up a piece of fruit at checkouts in more than 800 large stores and 77 Express locations. Parents using Click and Collect at participating stores can also get free apples for their kids when picking up groceries.
Eating whole, unpeeled apples offers significant health benefits, including a high water content (around 85%), soluble and insoluble fibre, and protective antioxidants such as quercetin. A medium-sized apple contains about 95 calories.
Scheme runs until August 30
Tesco hopes this gives millions of children a healthy snack during the weekly shop. The offer runs throughout the peak of the holidays, from July 20 until August 30.
Announcing the news on Instagram in July, Tesco wrote: "Free Fruit for Kids is back this summer to help children get one of their five a day. From 20 July to 30 August, children can pick up a free apple at over 800 large Tesco stores and selected Express stores. Click and Collect customers will also be given free apples for their children at selected stores. Subject to availability."
Long-term commitment to children's nutrition
The free fruit scheme was first launched in 2016 as a healthier alternative to checkout sweets and chocolates. Looking ahead, Tesco aims to give one million students free fruit and vegetables by July 2029. It also runs a Free Fruit and Veg for Schools scheme with the British Nutrition Foundation.
Tesco says: "We want to help one million school kids get fruit and veg for free. Because every little helps. Our Free Fruit and Veg for Schools programme is providing access to fruit and veg across over 500 schools in the UK, supporting thousands of children get more of their five-a-day."
Additional support for families
In addition to the free fruit, Tesco brought back its "Kids Eat Free" deal in its store cafés for families eating out. Available across 317 cafés during the holidays, the scheme now includes weekends. Adults buying any item from 60p can get a free kids' hot meal, breakfast, or Pick 'n' Mix deal by showing their Clubcard.
Shoppers can also buy pre-filled donation bags in stores to help local food banks. The Trussell Trust reports that food bank support for children remains 34% higher than before the pandemic. The donation bags cost between £2 and £4 and contain healthy, non-perishable food. Donated items go directly to Felix and Trussell to support families in need across the UK.
Claire De Silva from Tesco said: "We want to be able to support our charity partners to help those needing a little extra support this summer. Our partnerships with Felix and Trussell are central to this aim. When you’re out doing your weekly shop this summer, dropping a few tins into a food collection point, picking up a food donation bag in our stores or rounding up our grocery bill, can make a difference to the lives of thousands of children in communities across the UK."
