Tesco’s move to become the first UK retailer to commit to a major sugar reduction programme is set to spark a “chain reaction” across the food and drink sector, experts have predicted.
The Grocer exclusively revealed on Monday Tesco’s plan for a 5% year-on-year, open-ended reduction in sugar across its soft drinks range, which accounts for about 30% of all UK soft drinks sales.
With added-sugar soft drinks singled out by the DH for action following last year’s draft SACN committee report on carbohydrates, Tesco’s move was overwhelmingly welcomed by the health lobby.
Action on Sugar chairman Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London, said he thought it would spark a “revolution” in the health agenda and force other retailers to follow suit.
“This is exactly the sort of action that we have been campaigning for. Our aim now will be to force Jeremy Hunt [health secretary] and Jane Ellison [public health minister] to use this as the start of a major programme of sugar reduction.”
AOS is calling for sugar reduction targets for food and drinks of 40% by 2020 but Professor MacGregor said the 5% commitment by Tesco was a huge step. “It doesn’t really matter if it’s 10% or 5% a year, the fact is that Tesco has acknowledged we need to have a programme of sugar reduction.”
But industry sources warned the move could divide suppliers and retailers. “It’s a great illustration of the pressures we’re going to see the industry come under,” said one supplier. “On the one hand you can see how to be seen to be reducing sugar is a huge opportunity for Tesco. But it isn’t the most collaborative thing in the world either.”
No comments yet