Tesco has announced the return of its popular free fruit initiative, launching a two-week campaign to provide millions of children with complimentary apples. The scheme, which runs from 30 December to 13 January, is designed to make healthy snacks more accessible to families across the UK.
Details of the Free Fruit Initiative
The offer is available at more than 800 large Tesco stores nationwide. Children shopping with their families can simply pick up a free apple at the checkout. Furthermore, customers using the click and collect service at 119 of the supermarket's larger outlets will also receive free apples with their order.
In a commitment to supporting British agriculture, all apples distributed will be sourced from six UK suppliers. Tesco estimates it will give away more than three million apples over the fortnight. This effort extends the work of the retailer's expanded fruit and vegetable programme for schools, which provided over ten million portions to around 140,000 children in the last academic year.
A Broader Strategy for Nationwide Health
This campaign forms a key part of Tesco's 'Less to pay for 5-a-day' strategy, launched against a concerning backdrop. Recent government statistics reveal that fewer than one in ten children and only one in five adults manage to consume the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables daily.
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."
Incentivising Healthy Habits with Clubcard
Beyond the free fruit, Tesco is integrating its loyalty scheme to promote sustained healthy shopping. From 12 January to 22 February, selected customers will be invited to participate in special Clubcard Challenges. These challenges will reward shoppers with Clubcard points for purchasing items such as:
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Beans and pulses
- Canned products
- Dried fruit
Additionally, Clubcard prices and offers will be prominently featured on a wide range of fruit and vegetable products, providing further savings and encouraging healthier basket choices.
