Tesco expands free Fruit & Veg for Schools scheme in Wales
Tesco expands free Fruit & Veg for Schools scheme in Wales
Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.
Tesco has confirmed it will extend its Fruit & Veg for Schools programme for another academic year, with more than 500 schools across the UK – including 30 in Wales – set to receive free fruit and vegetables.
The initiative, launched in September 2024 in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, is part of Tesco’s wider Stronger Starts funding and community support programme. It provides children with daily access to fresh produce sourced from their local Tesco store.
During the first year of the scheme (2024/25), around 140,000 children were supported with over 10 million portions of fruit and veg. Popular choices included apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, and strawberries.
For 2025/26, the programme will continue to target schools in areas where more than half of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Tesco said this focus is vital as research shows families on lower incomes face significant challenges in affording a healthy diet.
Only 12% of children aged 11 to 18 currently meet the recommended five-a-day intake. For children taking part in the scheme, Tesco expects their fruit and veg consumption to rise by an average of 23%.
Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK CEO, said: “Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has made on their children, so we are delighted we are able to support even more schools in year two.
“The first year of our programme has been a huge success and by expanding it we can ensure that even more young people in some of the most challenged communities in the UK get access to more fruit and veg.”
In Wales, Coed y Dderwen Community Primary School was among the schools to benefit in year one.
Hodgson, Family Engagement Officer at the school, said: “The funding we received from Tesco has already made a meaningful difference to our school community.
“We are now able to provide fresh fruit daily to all our pupils, promoting healthier eating habits and encouraging children to make nutritious choices throughout the day. We have even seen improvements in both attendance and concentration amongst the children, which is fantastic to see.”
Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “Tesco’s Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has helped to improve the diets of our young people by helping them get more of their five a day, try new varieties and develop healthy habits that we hope will stay with them through life.
“We’re delighted to see the programme expanded to provide daily fruit and vegetables to even more children who might not normally be able to access them.”
Tesco said the continuation of the programme underlines its long-term commitment to improving diets, supporting families, and strengthening links between its stores and local communities.
Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials
Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast
