Half of all Woolworths Food stores have removed sweets from their checkout queues as part of a healthier living initiative announced in 2015.<\/p>\n
According to Woolworths, the plan – which saw sweets and chocolates replaced with better, healthier snacking alternatives – has been implemented at 171 stores across South Africa and Africa, shooting past the group’s initial commitment to restructure 166 stores.<\/p>\n
“These stores represent 50% of total Woolworths stores and 70% of total sweets and chocolates sales,” the group said.<\/p>\n
“The remaining stores will be completed in a phased approach over the course of 2016\/2017. Sweets and chocolates continue to be available in stores, located in areas where customers have the choice to shop, rather than in the checkout aisles.”<\/p>\n
Woolworths announced in August 2018 that it would make a move to remove sweets and chocolates from checkout aisles as part of its decade-long “Good Food Journey”.<\/p>\n
The aim of the plan is to provide South African consumers with better, healthier options in meals.<\/p>\n
The chain said that over the course of 2007 and 2008, it removed the equivalent of 20 million teaspoons (approximately 79 tonnes) of sugar from chilled 100% juices and nectars, and reduced the sugar content across the yoghurt range by 15%.<\/p>\n
It has reduced the salt content used in making over 100 of its own-brand products, which has resulted in a dramatic reduction of 35.2 tonnes of salt, the group said.<\/p>\n
At the stores where sweets and chocolates have been removed, alternatives such as dried fruit, nuts and biltong have been provided instead, based on customer feedback.<\/p>\n
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