Director highlights success of the HLP after 20 years
THE director of the Healthy Living Programme (HLP) has spoken about her vision for the future.
Kathryn Neil revealed her hopes as the scheme, run by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) and backed by Holyrood funding, celebrated its 20th anniversary.
She said the biggest wish – and focus – for the team was for Scottish Government funding to continue.
Beyond that, Neil said the aim was to increase the number of retailers involved with the HLP at a high standard and to work with those store operators to direct consumers to make healthier purchases.
She said the team would continue to create closer ties between schools, communities and retailers – in part through the HLP’s Welby Big Breakfast events.
Neil said: “Through our programme, we can make a real difference to the younger generation by educating them and influencing their shopping habits.
“Making the Welby Big Breakfasts fun and interactive can lead to key relationships being built with the children and local retailers, which in turn can have an impact on shopping decisions made by the kids.”
To help mark the HLP’s 20th anniversary, Neil spoke at the SGF annual conference in Glasgow last month.
She told delegates about the fledgling start for the scheme in 2004 and early project work with just 197 c-store retailers. She said that, even as recently as 2018, when she took over as director, the HLP was still largely unknown.
She said: “Fast-forward to 2024 and the HLP is working with 2342 retailers, with 69% of the stores situated in areas of deprivation.
“We deal with just under 50% of all the c-stores in Scotland and I am confident that the convenience sector now knows who and what the HLP are and that, together, we are making an impact.”
She pointed to the huge popularity of the programme’s Welby banana character, saying it showed industry colleagues backed the brand, the HLP concept and the team.
Neil said the HLP dealt with all the major symbol groups and the scheme’s role was to create bespoke programmes for stores by supplying a vast array of POS, healthy recipes and initiatives to point both children and adults to purchase healthier options.
The director went on: “Our Welby breakfast event is in high demand with both schools and retailers. We recently reached the figure of more than 37,000 primary school pupils that have attended one of our events since 2017.
“Nearly 10,000 pieces of toast have been made, more than 74,000 pieces of fruit have been chopped and 18,500 pieces of Weetabix have been served.
“Importantly, we have seen footfall increase by up to 62% in stores after an event.”
Recently, the HLP worked with One O One and Young Scot to offer youngsters online discounts on healthier products.
And the HLP Retailer Development Plan gives retailers a clear view on how they can develop their stores to sell healthier products and create community links to direct consumers to make healthier purchases.
Neil concluded: “As I have always said, the HLP won’t make an impact in stores overnight. But with the relationships that are built with retailers and communities, we really can make an impact on consumers’ dietary choices.”
