Local food and drink retailers promoting eating guidelines

Media Release November 2016

“Making a Healthy Profit”

Local food and drink retailers promoting eating guidelines.

It’s common knowledge that eating nutritious food is good for both our physical and mental health, can increase our productivity, and optimise our childrens’ development. The health sector can encourage the public to eat better and to choose healthier foods but research shows that using this approach alone has minimal impact. We also need to address the food environment in which we live, learn, work and play, and we need the participation of all sectors to be able to do so.

Products high in sugar, fat and salt are available everywhere in our communities, whereas foods and beverages we should be eating every day are often not as readily available and accessible. The Southern Region of New Zealand is no different. Food and beverage marketing influences peoples’ eating habits – their food preferences, food requests, and choices, and is composed almost entirely of messages to consume more products high in sugar, fat and salt. Some local Dunedin food and beverage retailers who recognise the importance of food to the wellbeing of their communities have taken steps toward shifting this imbalance in the food and beverage marketing world.

Nine retailers in three Dunedin neighbourhoods have joined WellSouth’s Everyday Food Retail Network - Kainga te tahua o rongo rāua ko haumia - and will increase marketing of those foods and beverages we all would be better off be eating every day.

Lisa Lindsay, a local mum and kaimahi at Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora feels that:

“The Everyday Food marketing will make it easier for me as a parent, especially when I’m in a rush. I could get my kids to pick something from the “Everyday Food” Shelf when they are asking for snacks” Stores who have signed up include;

Caversham:

• Joe’s Fresh Market, 301 South Road (Fruit and Vegetable Store)

• Robinson’s 1st in Meats, 527 Hillside Road (Butcher)

• Caversham Dairy, 311B South Road (Dairy)

North East Valley

• Deep Creek Deli, 35 North Road (Butcher)

• Quarry Food Market, 314 North Road (Dairy)

• Black’s Road Green Grocer, 178 North Road (Fruit and Veg)

St Kilda

• Stadium Store, 94B Victoria Road (Dairy)

• 10 O’clock Dairy, 100 Prince Albert Road (Dairy)

• Deep Creek Deli, 16 Prince Albert Street (Butcher)

These retailers acknowledge that a healthier food environment benefits individuals, families, communities and the economy as well. A whole of community approach is required to change the food environment in which we live and those participating in WellSouth’s Everyday Retail Network are making efforts to contribute to a change by promoting food we should be eating every day. Visit: www.wellsouth.org.nz/everydayfoodretailnetwork

If your business is interested in signing up to our retail network please contact sophie.carty@wellsouth.org.nz

ENDS.

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