Discounter to distribute 1,500 £100 vouchers for primary school classroom fresh produce tasting as investment in education programme surpasses £1mn
Lidl will invest £150,000 in digital gift cards to primary schools to fund classroom tasting session, alongside launching new teaching materials, as the dicsounter expands its food education programme to older pupils.
The supermarket will distribute the vouchers, each worth £100, enabling teachers to purchase fresh fruit and veg for pupils to sample in lessons.
The investment comes amid concerns regarding children’s understanding of healthy eating.
Research conducted by Lidl earlier this year revealed that nearly one in five (19 per cent) of children believe tomato ketchup and strawberry milkshakes count toward their five-a-day.
Georgina Hall, director of corporate affairs at Lidl GB, said: “Getting children excited about fresh, healthy food starts with practical experience in the classroom.
“By putting £150,000 directly into the hands of teachers for classroom tasting sessions and opening up our resources to older primary pupils, we’re helping schools build positive, lifelong food habits for the next generation,” she added.
The pledge also extends the discounter’s Lidl Foodies programme, a free educational scheme for primary school children launched in October 2024.
While the scheme was initially introduced for Year 1 and 2 pupils, the programme is now rolling out new materials for children aged 8 to 11.
Teachers will now have access to 20-minute lesson plans, interactive classroom activities and digital guides focusing on three topics: sustainable farming, reducing food waste and the Planetary Health Diet.
The retailer has also launched a dedicated healthy eating hub hosting all free teaching tools and grant application details.
Lidl said the programme, which now features in a quarter of a million primary schools in the UK, has been backed by over £1mn in funding to date.
Farming and Food Minister Stephen Morgan MP said: “Teaching children to understand where their food comes from and having confidence to make healthy choices is vital for building healthier communities.
“It’s great to see initiatives like this one helping more children discover and enjoy fresh, nutritious food,” he added.
