To the delight of key fresh produce supplier Del Monte, fast-food chain McDonald's has credited its change of focus onto healthy options for its biggest sales increase for 17 years.

The burger giant's UK outlets have reported encouraging uptake of its fruit slice and salad meal offers since their introduction in the last 18 months.

Del Monte supplies 100 per cent of the franchise operation's fruit and 80 per cent of its salads requirement. "This really is excellent news," said Clark Ross of Del Monte Fresh Packaged Produce (UK). "It is good to be a part of it." Del Monte started supplying sliced apples and grapes to McDonald's in April last year and went nation-wide with the restaurant's salad requirements in March. One of the supplier's other big projects has been providing sliced tomatoes into McDonald's two new healthy-eating products.

The new range was launched as a practical response to the widespread backlash McDonald's was receiving from a more health-conscious nation.

The company registered its first quarterly loss last year, but has now posted quarterly net income of £320 million, a 25 per cent year-on-year uplift; the biggest since 1987.

Detractors believe that the expansion of the healthy options offer is less of a driver of the increased sales than the widening of the offer as a whole. Whichever is correct, McDonald's has righted the ship and looks set to continue with its major drive to enhance its public image through its salads and fruit. And Del Monte is continues to work with the restaurant chain about new lines for the UK market, as well as the rest of Europe.

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