Basingstoke, October 2006

Leading UK vending services provider Selecta will launch its Healthy Drinks for Schools scheme this autumn. The initiative will see all cold beverages that are high in added sugar removed from the company's school vending machines across the country and replaced with healthier alternatives.

The move comes a year in advance of new Government regulations, which will require cold drinks sold in schools to contain less than five per cent added sugar and will become compulsory in September 2007.

"Over the past year, we have been introducing healthier products with no added sugar, 100 per cent juices and milk drinks in several sectors under our Balanced Choices programme," explains Selecta cold drinks category manager Dina Soliman. "These include the workplace as well as public sites such as airports, shopping centres and bus and railway stations. The initiative has been extremely popular with consumers and we felt that there was a natural opportunity to develop a similar scheme for schools."

Selecta has since been working with sister company and education caterers Scolarest to test its Healthy Drinks for Schools at selected sites. The trials have involved replacing fizzy drinks in school vending machines with a variety of plain waters, 100 per cent pure fruit juices and milkshakes. "We were surprised at how popular the new drinks were with students, particularly the younger groups," says Dina. "As a result, we will be introducing the new range of products into our school vending machines for the start of the new term in September."

"Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet has never been more important than in the current climate, especially for youngsters," says Dina. "The Food Standards Agency recommends that people should aim to cut down on their intake of foods containing added sugars. Our Healthy Drinks for Schools scheme encourages this approach by making it easier for youngsters to make healthier choices while at school."