Tesco Doubles School Fruit & Veg Scheme To Reach Over 1,000 Sites

Tesco is significantly scaling up its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, doubling its reach to more than 1,000 schools from September in a move aimed at tackling persistently low consumption of fresh produce among UK children.

The expansion follows new research from the retailer showing that just one in ten children meet the recommended “five-a-day” target during a typical school day — a statistic that continues to underline the scale of the public health challenge.

Originally launched in 2024 as part of Tesco’s wider Stronger Starts initiative, the programme provides schools with access to free fruit and vegetables, helping pupils build healthier eating habits while broadening their exposure to fresh produce.

The latest rollout will see participation increase from around 500 schools to over 1,000, with ambitions to double the programme’s reach again the following year.

Tesco’s research highlights the behavioural challenges behind poor consumption. Many children gravitate towards familiar foods, with fruit more commonly accepted than vegetables, while 68 per cent of parents say they have stopped buying certain produce after repeated refusal.

Encouragingly, the scheme appears to be shifting habits. Pupils involved have collectively sampled more than 100 different types of fruit and vegetables, helping to expand tastes and improve willingness to try new foods.

The retailer is also introducing a new nationwide “Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge”, designed to make healthy eating more engaging by inviting children to create their own fruit- and veg-based dishes, with the winning recipe set to feature on school menus.

Tesco Group CEO Ken Murphy said the initiative forms part of a broader ambition to support one million children across the UK to access fruit and vegetables through school and community programmes.

The programme is already delivering measurable benefits. Previous findings show that 94 per cent of teachers reported improved pupil behaviour and focus, while participation has been linked to increased nutrient intake and stronger engagement with healthy eating.

Elaine Hindal, chief executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said early exposure to fruit and vegetables plays a critical role in shaping long-term dietary habits, adding that initiatives like Tesco’s can have a lasting impact on children’s health outcomes.

Alongside its Fruit & Veg Grants and Free Fruit for Kids campaigns, Tesco said the expanded programme reinforces its commitment to improving access to nutritious food — particularly in communities where children are most at risk of missing out.

In a market increasingly focused on health, affordability and long-term consumption trends, the move signals a clear intent from one of the UK’s largest retailers to play a more active role in shaping future eating habits — starting in the classroom.