Tesco and Sainsbury head a list of leading retailers that will have to wait until September to stock a new range of official Atkins products.
The Grocer revealed last month that US-based Atkins Nutritionals, the company behind the controversial high protein, low carb regime, was planning to launch products specifically for the UK market (December 6, 2003, p55).
The range, which includes cereal bars, shakes, chocolate and bread mixes, nutritional supplements and a 14-day starter kit, went into Boots, health food stores and Asda pharmacies this week.
However, the other major multiples seem unconcerned that the products are, as yet, unavailable to them. Tesco said it had “no plans at this stage to stock the range” and added that it “did not endorse any specific diet”, while Sainsbury said low carbohydrate diets went “against all current healthy eating advice” and could be “harmful to health in the long term”. It also said its shoppers’ main dietary concerns were still fat content and calories.
The Atkins products are aimed at the three million Britons said to be following the eating regime. Collette Heimowitz, vice president of education and research, said the products were a “healthy alternative” and targeted consumers wanting to control sugar in their diet, as well as those reducing carbohydrates.
The Grocer revealed last month that US-based Atkins Nutritionals, the company behind the controversial high protein, low carb regime, was planning to launch products specifically for the UK market (December 6, 2003, p55).
The range, which includes cereal bars, shakes, chocolate and bread mixes, nutritional supplements and a 14-day starter kit, went into Boots, health food stores and Asda pharmacies this week.
However, the other major multiples seem unconcerned that the products are, as yet, unavailable to them. Tesco said it had “no plans at this stage to stock the range” and added that it “did not endorse any specific diet”, while Sainsbury said low carbohydrate diets went “against all current healthy eating advice” and could be “harmful to health in the long term”. It also said its shoppers’ main dietary concerns were still fat content and calories.
The Atkins products are aimed at the three million Britons said to be following the eating regime. Collette Heimowitz, vice president of education and research, said the products were a “healthy alternative” and targeted consumers wanting to control sugar in their diet, as well as those reducing carbohydrates.
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