Initiative promotes food payment card
THE Best Start Foods card will be promoted at more than 2,200 c-stores under a tie-up between the Scottish Grocers’ Federation Healthy Living Programme and Social Security Scotland.
The initiative will raise awareness of the payment and encourage the 40,000 holders of the prepaid card to use it at their local shop.
Retailers will display information around their store to let customers know they accept the prepaid card as a method of payment.
Best Start Foods, run by Social Security Scotland, helps pregnant women and eligible families with the cost of buying healthy food and milk for babies and children. The payment is delivered via a prepaid card and is topped up with up to £39.60 every four weeks.
The SGF Healthy Living Programme will train and encourage staff in shops to get their customers used to paying with Best Start Foods cards.
Among the chains involved in the new scheme are Spar, KeyStore, Nisa and Premier. The network of small shops promoting Best Start Foods spans the whole of Scotland.
Social Security Scotland chief exec David Wallace launched the scheme at a KeyStore in Johnstone, Renfrewshire. He said: “Convenience shops can be the lifeblood of their communities. This initiative means owners and staff can ensure customers use all of the financial support available to them.”
Kathryn Neil, programme director of the SGF Healthy Living Programme, said: “Our relationships with the convenience and wholesale sector allow us to deliver the information to consumers in the most deprived areas of Scotland and reach those who are eligible.”
Chris Watson, owner of the KeyStore on Ness Avenue, Johnstone, said: “Times are really hard for my customers. If I can highlight the Best Start scheme and customers can benefit from it, that can only be a good thing.”
