Woolworths New Zealand is celebrating a big milestone: its Free Fruit for Kids program has now handed out over 10 million pieces of fruit since it began in 2015. This program helps children enjoy healthy snacks while shopping with their families.
The idea started as a small trial in East Auckland but quickly grew into a nationwide effort. Today, all 185 Woolworths stores across New Zealand offer baskets of free fruit, like apples, bananas, pears, and mandarins, for children to enjoy while their parents shop.
Woolworths’ Fruit and Vegetables Manager, Ryan McMullen, says the program has made shopping trips easier and healthier. “It’s a simple idea that supports parents and helps kids make better food choices,” he explained.
The company estimates that over 1,400 tonnes of fruit have been given away — that’s enough to stretch from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island! Most of the fruit comes from local New Zealand growers.
The Free Fruit for Kids program is part of Woolworths’ bigger plan to help families eat better. In recent years, the store has also added “healthier checkouts” and banned energy drink sales to anyone under 16.
Woolworths says it will keep working to make shopping healthier and more enjoyable for families all over Aotearoa.
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