UK food-on-the-go retailer Greggs is preparing to help its millions of customers enjoy an extra 15m portions of veg by 2020 by reformulating its freshly prepared soups and salads.
Greggs made a Pledge for Veg at the recent Vegetable Summit, organised by food think tank the Food Foundation. Greggs told the summit that 100% of their soup and leaf-based salads will provide at least one portion of veg from January 2018.
The group is also committing to growing the like for like volume of these ranges each year between January 2018 and October 2020. It pledged that 50% of their cold sandwich range will provide half a portion of veg by next January. In total, this will mean at least 15m portions of extra vegetables are consumed by Greggs' customers.
In 2014, Greggs launched its Balanced Choice range, offering customers a choice of wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups, porridge, fruit, yoghurt and drinks, which are all less than 400 calories and meet amber and green on the Department of Health traffic light system for fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar.
Malcolm Copland, Commercial Director at Greggs, said, 'We know that choice is very important to our customers and while our traditional favourites are much loved, we're proud to be able offer customers healthier options as part of our Balanced Choice range.
'Currently more than 10% of our sales come from our Balanced Choice range which highlights that there is growing demand from our customers. We're pleased to be making a 'Pledge for Veg' at the Veg Summit and will be looking at ways to increase the use of veg and salad in even more new products in the future.'
Executive Director of the Food Foundation, Anna Taylor said, 'Over 20k premature deaths in the UK every year could be prevented by eating more veg. This pledge from Greggs has the potential to help millions of people in the UK eat the extra portion of veg they need every day.
'But this is just the beginning! We have more than 40 pledges being made at our summit on Tuesday including several major supermarket chains and manufacturers, and we want to hear from even more. Everyone can play a part in pledging for veg.'