Waitrose takes 25 tonnes of sugar out of popular own label products
LONDON, 2016-Jan-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Waitrose has today announced plans to reduce sugar in its range of breakfast cereals during 2016 by stripping out more than 7.5 million calories or nearly two tonnes in the coming year.
The commitment will involve a 15 per cent sugar reduction in cornflakes, one of Waitrose’s top selling lines, and significant sugar reduction in other popular products, including honey and nut cornflakes and choco pops.
The changes to breakfast cereals will mean that by the end of this year Waitrose has removed nearly 25 tonnes of sugar from its own label products across a variety of products categories.
The work builds on the supermarket’s success in reducing sugar during the last year. To date a total of seven tonnes of sugar have been removed from chilled juices, and 14.6 tonnes removed from own label yoghurts.
In addition the retailer has reduced the sugar content of undiluted juices, cordials and squashes by between five and 15 per cent without the use of sweeteners and by between 10 and 30 per cent for fizzy drinks.
Waitrose Nutrition Manager, Moira Howie, says: ‘Breakfast is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle so Waitrose will continue to focus attention on cereals and other popular breakfast choices such as sweet pastries, smoothies, yoghurts and juices in the coming year, so we really can help customers make a healthier choice.
‘We have already made significant progress in reducing sugar across everyday items like drinks and yoghurts. However, it is not simply a question of removing sugar we are also adding healthier ingredients which have nutritional benefits into our own label range, such as wholegrains, vegetables and fruit.’
Notes to editors
Waitrose – the Nation’s Favourite Supermarket¹ and winner of the Best Supermarket² and Best Food and Grocery Retailer³ awards – currently has 346 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 62 convenience branches, and another 28 shops at Welcome Break locations. It combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop – dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced, combined with high standards of customer service. Waitrose also exports its products to 58 countries worldwide and has seven shops which operate under licence in the Middle East. Waitrose’s omnichannel business includes the online grocery service Waitrose.com, as well as direct services websites including a specialist wine website (waitrosecellar.com)
¹ Which? Best Supermarket, 2015
² Good Housekeeping Best Supermarket 2015
³ Verdict Best Food and Grocery Retailer 2015
Find out more on the Waitrose Press Area (waitrose.pressarea.com)
Enquiries
For further information please contact:
Hannah Chance, Communications Manager, Corporate
Email: hannah.chance@waitrose.co.uk
Telephone: 01344 826804