Tesco has announced that it will no longer stock sweets and chocolate at its checkouts in Ireland.
The retailer intends to trial a variety of healthier products at checkout tills, with the full removal of sweets and chocolate from its tills by the end of the year.
Commenting on the move, Tesco Ireland chief executive Phil J Clarke told the Irish Times that customers “made it clear to us that removing sweets and chocolates from checkouts will help them to make healthier choices”.
Safefood said that the move represents a positive step in helping consumers, especially those shopping with children, to make healthier choices.
"There’s a public readiness for this welcome step and our own research¹ found that 73% of people believe that having sweets and treats at checkouts contributes to obesity," said Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, director, Human Health and Nutrition, safefood.
"Initiatives like this by Tesco are steps that only retailers themselves can carry out and have the potential to influence the food environment in a positive way.”
