Sainsbury's is changing what's on offer in its staff rooms. The supermarket will stop giving out free crisps and biscuits and instead provide options such as soup, porridge, and bread. This move affects Sainsbury's stores, Argos branches, and distribution centres across the country.
The change comes after some staff said the snacks would often disappear before their shifts were over, meaning not everyone got a fair share. Sainsbury's says the update will "ensure a more consistent range of free food" for everyone.
The supermarket also wants to help staff make "light meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner" during their shifts. "We are committed to ensuring that every colleague who needs it can have something to eat at work", Sainsbury's added.
This policy change aligns with the government's efforts to address obesity. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, recently said that obesity "has doubled since the 1990s," putting a lot of pressure on the NHS, and more than a quarter of people in England are now considered obese, and the cost to the NHS is "estimated at £11 billion each year".
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Simon Roberts, Sainsbury's CEO and member of the Food Strategy Advisory Board, has welcomed new proposals that could see supermarkets asked to lower the average calories in shopping baskets. He said, "These rules should be applied across the entirety of our food sector." If supermarkets don't meet the targets, there could even be fines.
Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, is in agreement, "All food businesses have a critical part to play in providing good-quality, affordable and healthy food", he said, "That’s why we have called for mandatory reporting for all supermarkets and major food businesses."
Sainsbury's says the change is about helping staff eat a little healthier at work and ensuring there's enough for everyone, regardless of when their break is.
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