Sales of healthier food options up by 1000% after campaign

By Claudia Lee

Southwark’s local shops are stacking shelves with healthier food options thanks to a new campaign.

The Good Food Wholesale and Retail project launched in 2019, delivered by Rice Marketing, in partnership with Southwark council, Bestway Wholesale and Impact on Urban Health.

The pilot included 35 stores in low-income areas in the borough which now offer 22 per cent more products that are lower in salt, sugar and fat.

Kenton Burchell, Group Trading Director at Bestway, said: “The trials have proven that if all partners work together, we can deliver a significant change in consumer behaviour.

“We are excited to capture the key learnings and build out our strategy for the national roll-out as part of our strategic agenda to support independent retailers to stock better ranges and grow their sales.”

Bestway Wholesale, the UK’s largest independent wholesaler, saw a 1000 per cent increase in the sales of healthier options following a two-day push campaign in its Lewisham and Croydon depots.

The campaign was supported by 13 suppliers, which helped provide healthier, lower-cost options for the wholesaler to promote to retailers.

The pilot’s success was celebrated at an event at Bestway’s Lewisham depot.

Stores from the pilot collected free stock of 14 healthier options from Bestway Wholesale paid for by Southwark council through its High Street Recovery Fund.

If you are interested in becoming a Good Food Retailer, please contact stephanie@ricemarketing.co.uk or visit www.ricemarketing.co.uk

Picture: From left: Matt Towner (Programme Manager, Impact on Urban Health), Mr Thirukumar (Convenience store owner, Premier Express Brandon Street), Cllr Akoto, Cllr Seaton, Kenton Burchell (Trading Director, Bestway Wholesale), Vithi Ananthan  (Convenience store owner, Londis Kingslake and B&B Off Licence and Groceries), Rosie Dalton-Lucas (Head of Programmes for Healthy Place, Southwark Public Health), Chris Noice (Communication Director, Association for Convenience Stores) and Stephanie Rice (Founder and Owner, Rice Marketing).