In a major boost for family health, supermarket giant Tesco has announced the return of its popular free fruit initiative for millions of customers across the UK.
A Fortnight of Free Fruit for Families
The scheme, which runs from 30 December to 13 January, will see children shopping with their families offered free apples at the checkout. This generous offer is available at more than 800 large Tesco stores nationwide.
Furthermore, customers using the click and collect service at 119 of its large stores will also receive complimentary apples. In a commitment to supporting British agriculture, Tesco has confirmed that all apples provided will be British-grown, sourced from six UK suppliers.
This initiative is a key part of Tesco's 'Less to pay for 5-a-day' campaign. The supermarket estimates it will distribute more than three million apples over the two-week period, directly addressing concerns over childhood nutrition.
Supporting Long-Term Healthy Habits
The free fruit scheme is designed to extend the work of Tesco's expanded fruit and vegetable programme for schools. In the last academic year, this programme supported around 140,000 children with over ten million portions of fruit and vegetables.
Ashwin Prasad, UK CEO at Tesco, stated: "We're committed to making healthy choices easier, quicker and better value for our customers. With new offers, Clubcard Challenges, free fruit for kids and fresh online recipes, we're helping kids get more of their five‑a‑day, and making healthy eating fun for the entire nation."
This drive comes against a worrying backdrop. Recent government figures reveal that fewer than one in ten children and one in five adults consume the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables daily.
Earning Rewards for Healthy Choices
Tesco is also leveraging its loyalty programme to encourage better eating habits. From 12 January to 22 February, selected customers will be invited to earn Clubcard points through special challenges. These challenges will incentivise purchasing:
- Fruit and vegetables
- Beans and pulses
- Canned products
- Dried fruit
Additionally, Clubcard prices and offers will be prominently available on a wide range of fruit and vegetables in-store, making the healthy option the more affordable one for millions of households.
