Discount retailer’s Dutch division meets with Netherlands’ health minister to plan further positive action involving fruit and vegetables
The Dutch arm of supermarket chain Lidl says it plans to play an active role in helping consumers adopt healthier diets, following a meeting with Vincent Karremans, the Netherlands’ minister of health, welfare and sport.
The Council for Public Health & Society recently raised concerns over figures which suggest more than half of the Dutch population is overweight, and called for a mandatory policy that obliges supermarkets and producers to promote healthier choices.
“Together we must ensure that the healthy choice becomes easier. Lidl is at the forefront,” Karremans said during a working visit to one of its stores.
Lidl has committed to stop selling tobacco in all of its stores across Europe, and says it has adopted equitable pricing policies for example on wholemeal and plant-based products.
“Lidl clearly shows what is possible to promote a healthier lifestyle,” Karremans added. “We need these kinds of parties that want to be leaders. I want to make concrete, measurable agreements with all supermarkets soon to increase the range of healthy products and stimulate sales. Together we must ensure that the healthy choice becomes easier.”
Quirine de Weerd, head of sustainability and communication Lidl Netherlands, commented: “The majority of what consumers eat comes from the supermarket. We acknowledge our role and take our responsibility in the transition to healthy food.
“We were the first supermarket to have a concrete Schijf van Vijf objective, make products healthier and focus on more sales of whole grain and plant-based products and put vegetables and fruit in the foreground everywhere.
She added: “But we also know that more is needed. We must make the healthier choice easier for the customer with the entire sector.”
