Tesco Stronger Starts Food

[Siobhán @ Mams]

Recipe for success: Tesco Stronger Starts Food supports improved Children’s Health Nationwide, New Research Shows

Key Findings:

According to parents/guardians surveyed nationwide by IPSOS B&A:

87% said they’ve increased the amount of healthy food being prepared at home, with 78% reporting their children are eating more healthily

8 out of 10 have noticed their kids have more energy, better moods, and improved well-being

Nearly three quarters (73%) noted better school attendance

More than four fifths (83%) report sitting down together for meals more often

Thursday, 26th February 2025: New research, released today, has revealed the
Tesco Ireland Stronger Starts Food programme is feeding positive change in homes and schools across Ireland, with almost 8 out of 10 parents/guardians surveyed saying they have seen their children eating healthier at home.

Since 2021, the Tesco Stronger Starts Food programme has provided free, nutritious fresh fruit and vegetable packs to thousands of children who need it most through the DEIS primary school network, with each pack containing a mix of seasonal fruit and
vegetables like fresh apples, onions, potatoes, and carrots. The Tesco Stronger Starts Food Impact Report,
conducted by IPSOS B&A, uncovered several key benefits of the programme, according to parents/guardians, home school liaison officers and school principals surveyed nationwide.

Healthier Eating Means Happier Families

The report revealed the Tesco Stronger Starts Food programme is making a real difference to children’s health within the household. The majority
(82%) of parents/guardians say their children are showing a greater interest in eating healthier food and snacks, with almost
4 in 5 reporting that the programme has had a positive impact on their child’s overall diet/physical health. Additionally, almost
8 in 10 parents/guardians have noticed improvements in their child’s energy levels and mood.

Alongside the health benefits, the programme has also had a positive impact on how families interact with each other daily. Over three quarters (77%) of parents/guardians say kids are getting more involved in at-home cooking and food preparation, and
83% of families report sitting down together for meals more often. Over half (57%) of respondents also noted that they are now able to provide an extra 2-4 extra meals each week, thanks to the programme.

Making a Difference at Home and in Schools

According to the report, three quarters (76%) of parents/guardians have seen an increased motivation for going to school and learning from their children, with
69% of teachers reporting fewer hunger complaints at school.

In response to the report findings, the programme’s success, and a commitment to championing children’s health, Tesco Ireland has announced that they are expanding the Stronger Starts Food programme to
an additional 80 DEIS schools, bringing the total to 320 schools benefiting from the programme nationwide.

To find out more about Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme, simply visit
https://tescoireland.ie/sustainability/places/stronger-starts-schools-programme

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Katie Genockey | katie@thehiveagency.ie
| 085 1917 534

Suzanne O’Connor | suzanne@thehiveagency.ie
| 089 258 4130

Tesco Stronger Starts Food Impact Report findings – additional detail below and full report can be found
HERE.

1. Nutritional Support and Healthy Eating

4 out of 5 parents/guardians agree that Tesco Stronger Starts Food is positively impacting children’s diet/physical health. This sentiment is also reflected by two-thirds of educators.

82% have noticed a greater interest in eating healthier food and snacks.

2. Educational Outcomes

76% observed increased motivation for going to school / learning.

69% of educators report fewer complaints of hunger at school.

3. Family Engagement

83% of parents/guardians report a positive impact on the family sitting down and having meals together.

77% of parents/guardians see greater child involvement in cooking and food preparation.

84% of parents/guardians note that it encourages stable routines for cooking and meal preparation

4. Financial Relief and Food Insecurity Reduction

84% state that the programme has improved their ability to always have food at home.

Over half of respondents report the provision of 2-4 extra meals each week.

About Tesco Ireland

Tesco is one of Ireland’s largest grocery retailers having operated in the Irish retail market since 1997. With 183 stores nationwide, it employs over 13,000 people in cities and towns around Ireland, supporting almost 45,000 jobs directly and indirectly. Tesco
is the single largest retail buyer of Irish food and drink in the world, buying €1.6 billion a year, more than any other single country in the European Union.

About Tesco Stronger Starts Food

Tesco Stronger Starts Food is a community support programme that brings free healthier, nutritious food to primary school children most in need and their families across Ireland.

The programme began as a pilot in November 2021, reaching 1,000 children in 40 DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) primary schools located in some of Ireland’s most disadvantaged areas.

Today it supports almost 5,000 children weekly through 240 DEIS schools nationwide.

The programme provides free packs of fresh fruit and vegetables like potatoes, carrots, onions, apples, and oranges every week during the school term. These packs help families create healthier meals and snacks at home.

The programme is supported by three long standing Tesco suppliers – Country Crest, Dole, and Keelings – who supply some of the fresh fruit and vegetables for the fresh food packs.

Since October 2024, An Post has been the official logistics provider to Tesco Stronger Starts Food, through an innovative partnership that sees the bags of fresh foods delivered through An Post’s nationwide network.

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