Get an A for effort with a range of nutritious, convenient and cost-effective lunchbox options.
In just a few short weeks, the summer holidays that seemed endless as a child, will be over all too soon for the kids, and not nearly soon enough for their exhausted parents.
While mums and dads are rushing around trying to buy an affordable pair of school shoes that won’t wear out after five minutes’ footie and ensuring pencil cases are fully equipped with all the latest paraphernalia, the last thing they need to be faced with is what to pack their little darlings for lunch.
Thankfully, their local store can help simplify the process, by stocking a selection of kid-friendly foods that will pass the school rules.
“Healthy fruit snacks and healthier lunchbox items in general should be front and centre when retailers are trying to make the most from the back-to-school opportunity, but this is probably recognised more in the grocery channel at present, so is definitely an area for convenience retailers to consider,” says Gareth Roberts, UK Country Sales Manager at Dole Sunshine Company. “At Dole, all our fruit snacks are non-HFSS which, along with their convenient packaging, makes them perfect for the lunchbox.”
Salads are another quick and easy option for parents and guardians wanting to include healthier food in children’s lunchboxes.
At a time when one-third of shoppers are proactively looking to eat more fruit and vegetables to lead a healthier lifestyle [IGD Shopper Vista Health and Nutrition Barometer Oct 23], they recognise the positive impact fresh salads can have on children’s diets, claims Florette.
With over 560 million packs of fresh salad sold each year [Nielsen & Kantar 52 w/e 16 March 2024], the growing choice and variety in the fresh salads category can help parents to take greater control of their children’s diets, states the firm.
Martin Purdy, Commercial and Marketing Director at Florette UK says: “Very often, the main ingredients in sandwiches for children’s lunchboxes may not be chosen for health reasons, but parents can easily add the healthy option of fresh salads, which are naturally low in fat, salt and sugar and complement a wide range of children’s favourite lunchbox options.”
Florette has a wide range of salad products which are ideally suited to the lunchbox occasion, including Florette Crispy (90g and 140g), the biggest-selling salad product in the impulse channel, and Florette Mixed salad (125g), with its crunchy mix of leaves adding interest and texture to lunchbox meals.
In addition to health and convenience, Dole’s Roberts flags up that cost must also be considered when providing lunchbox solutions. “We know for many consumers who are shopping on a budget, fresh fruit and vegetables can be one of the first things to come off the shopping list, which really highlights the importance of retailers and brands who are committed to supporting healthier choices for their customers, and specifically helping people to eat healthily on a budget,” he says.
“However, healthier choices don’t have to be more expensive, as consumers can buy a four-pack of Dole’s fruit in juice cups for just £2.30 which offers them a great-tasting and healthy product at a price most can afford which are perfect for lunchboxes.”
The firm was also first to market last summer with a range of mixed fruit in jelly, targeted specifically at kids. Available in strawberry and orange jelly flavours, the products contain pieces of pineapple and papaya in smaller portion sizes for kids. Both pots are available to convenience retailers, with an RSP of just £1.79 for a pack of four, which offers retailers an attractive margin, with ambient storage and a long shelf life.
