An inflatable fruit case aimed at kids is to trial at 22 Asda superstores in April.
The Fruity Faces packs were designed by a mother of two to encourage children to eat more fruit and launched in June last year.
The brightly coloured PVC cases enable children to carry fruit to school without ending up with squashed bananas, bruised apples or pulped peaches.
The packs, which are available in four striking designs and are named after African fruit - Fenne, Tunda, Sesy and Mengi, are now a “must-have item” among school children, according to its makers.
A total of 75,000 units have been sold to date through schools, online orders, catalogues and distributors.
The firm has carried out a consumer survey which found that 64 per cent of respondents said Fruity Faces had increased their fruit consumption from one to four pieces a day.
Paige Allen, who designed the concept in her school art classes nearly 26 years ago, told freshinfo: “Fruity faces is about getting people to eat more fruit and to attach a more positive and fun message to eating 5 A DAY.
“We are very pleased with the response we have had so far, and all without any advertising.”
Allen appeared on BBC2’s Dragon’s Den on Wednesday to ask for investment, however, she is as yet unable to reveal the response to her pitch.
Fruity Faces has been awarded a license to use the 5 A DAY logo and has been positively received from many of the Healthy Schools Coordinators across the UK.
The project received the Startup Business Awards’ Community Service Impact Award in October 2006.
Profits from the sales will be split and donated to three charities - African Revival, FARA, a charity for abandoned Romanian children, and Hospice of Hope Romania.
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