Everyone Active has pledged to remove more than three tonnes of sugar – the equivalent of 85,714 cans of fizzy drinks – from its food and beverage offering over the next three years.
The sports and leisure operator is the latest to sign up to the Sugar Smart campaign, a nationwide initiative led by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and charity Sustain that aims to inspire a large-scale change in people’s eating habits and improve the nation’s health.
Everyone Active is working with suppliers to replace high-sugar products with low-sugar alternatives in its centres. So far, leisure facilities across Plymouth and Bristol are on board, with the operator working with councils in Havering, Ealing, St Albans and Middlesbrough to sign up before looking to expand the scheme further.
The operator has also introduced a ‘traffic light’ system to drive members towards healthier options by grading products based on their sugar content.
“We have already been doing a lot of work to make our food and beverage options healthier and it’s great to formally recognise this with the Sugar Smart stamp,” said Andy Coupé, Everyone Active’s group food and beverage manager.
“Any organisation that offers food options to the community has an obligation to provide healthier alternatives. Our involvement in the Sugar Smart campaign is all about giving people a choice and helping them to understand the small changes they can make that have a big impact on their overall health and wellbeing.”
Sofia Parente, campaigns coordinator at Sustain, which advocates better food and farming procedures, said: “Leisure centres have a huge role in educating people about the importance of exercise and good diet. They need to lead by example in the food and drinks they sell and the advice they give their customers.”
In May, Salford Community Leisure
removed all sugary drinks from vending machines and cafés at its leisure centres, while in July 2016, operator Sheffield International Venues
introduced a 20p charge on all drinks containing 5mg of sugar per 100ml or more sold at its cafes and vending machines at its leisure facilities.
Everyone Active manages more than 150 leisure and cultural facilities nationwide.
