The Scottish Grocers’ Foundation (SGF) is today celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Healthy Living Programme (HLP), an initiative to help direct consumers to purchase healthier options, improve the health of communities and also create an avenue for new markets in healthy products.
It has also engaged with over 37,000 pupils across Scotland through its Welby Breakfast initiative, which sees convenience retailers team up with primary schools to deliver healthy breakfast events.
At this year’s SGF Annual Conference in Glasgow, held today, programme director Kathryn Neil will address delegates on the anniversary and the success of the programme. She said: “Over twenty years SGF and HLP have created a programme that works for every store, and the branding is now a key fixture in many new or refitted shops. Community engagement has been the key to success, ensuring the programme remains relevant and maintains relationships with key fascia groups and helping to deliver the responsible retailing message.
SGF Chief Exec, Dr Pete Cheema OBE, added: “The programme has gone from strength to strength and is now more important than ever to both retailers and their customers. We hugely value the contribution of the HLP team and the Scottish Government in surpassing all expectations.
“England and Wales have tried to replicate the success of the SGF HLP Programme, but to no avail. It is a testament to the Scottish Grocers Federation Healthy Living Team, that this is now one of the most successful Scottish Government programmes ever. Having evolved so much over the 20 years, it is more relevant to the Scottish Market than it has ever been.”
Fully funded by the Scottish Government since 2004, HLP works with more than 2,300 convenience retailers in Scotland to help advise on growing sales of healthier products in stores. Research commissioned by the programme shows that 40% of consumers can now identify the HLP branding in store, with plans to continue expanding the programme in the coming years.
No comments yet