More than 550 UK primary schools to benefit from Tesco’s extended healthy eating initiative. Could your school benefit as well?
Tesco has announced the extension of its impactful Fruit & Veg for Schools programme into the 2025/2026 academic year. Building on the success of the pilot phase, the initiative will now support over 550 primary schools across the UK. It will help thousands of children gain access to fresh produce and build healthier eating habits.
The programme offers schools a simple and fully funded way to introduce more fruit and vegetables into the school day. With weekly deliveries directly from local Tesco stores, schools can provide nutritious snacks during lessons, at break times, or as part of food-based learning activities. And without incurring any additional costs.
In the first year, schools received over 500 tonnes of produce, including apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, and strawberries. Many of these fruits were new experiences for the children involved. Schools particularly welcomed the ease of the scheme and the enthusiasm it generated among pupils.
“The Tesco Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has given our children the opportunity to try so many new fruit and vegetables, while also helping us build healthy eating into a valuable part of our daily routine. Children are helping to prepare the fruit, trying things they’ve never eaten, and even asking for fruit and vegetables at home. It has been a joy to see their curiosity grow and their enthusiasm for healthy eating thrive,” said Astral Blanchard, Headteacher at Twerton Infant School in Bath.
Benefits to Schools
Schools participating in the programme have reported a wide range of benefits:
- No-cost delivery of fresh, quality fruit and vegetables to supplement meals or classroom snacks.
- Hands-on learning opportunities, with food preparation and tasting activities sparking pupil engagement.
- Positive impact on attitudes towards healthy eating, especially in schools serving lower-income communities.
- Community connection, as Tesco colleagues often help deliver the food and connect with the school.
The programme is designed to have a particularly significant impact in areas where over 50% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Research shows that only 12% of children aged 11–18 meet the government’s “five-a-day” recommendation. Schools in the first year of the programme saw a 23% increase in fruit and vegetable consumption among their pupils.
Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK Chief Executive, 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 can 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.”
Tesco encourages schools across the UK to register their interest and take part in this initiative. The application process is straightforward, with all logistics and deliveries managed by Tesco to ensure a smooth and low-effort experience for schools.
Sign up!
Visit tescoplc.com/community or contact Tesco’s community engagement team for programme details or to register your school.
