Tesco has announced it is bringing back its popular Kids Eat Free scheme in its 312 cafés across the UK. It will return on Boxing Day and be available until January 6, 2023.
Tesco cafés will offer one free Kids Hot Meal Deal, Kids Breakfast or Kids Pick ‘n’ Mix deal with each item bought by an adult from as little as 60p when showing their Clubcard at the till. Popular kids menu items include beans or avocado on toast, fish fingers, baked chicken goujons or a sandwich.
Main meals include a vegetable side dish and the sandwich pick n mix includes a piece of fresh fruit. Kids Eat Free is part of Tesco’s work to help customers save money during the Christmas season and help families provide children with a balanced meal.
This year, during the summer school holidays, October half term and over Christmas, Tesco said its cafés will have provided more than 400,000 free meals for children. It added that research from food charity The Food Foundation showed that four million children in households were affected by food insecurity, the highest level it had tracked since the start of the pandemic. The research also showed that households with children were more likely to experience food insecurity than households without children - 25.8% versus 16%.
Jason Tarry, Tesco UK CEO, said: “We are pleased to bring back our Kids Eat Free initiative in Tesco Cafés, offering a little extra support over the Christmas holidays. We want to help parents and carers to provide children with nutritious food – saving them some money at a time when budgets are tighter than ever. Children can get a balanced meal and hopefully get into the Christmas spirit too."
Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said: “It’s great to see Tesco supporting families in this way, particularly at such an important time of year. We know that the cost-of-living crisis has put increased pressure on vulnerable households, so the ability for parents and carers to get a free meal in so many communities across the country is very welcome. Hunger doesn’t take a holiday, so it’s vital that both the Government and businesses act to support families as we head into what will be a very challenging Winter for many.”
James Toop, CEO of youth-led campaigning organisation Bite Back 2030, added: "It’s a critical time for the health of young people. The cost of living crisis is impacting families' and making it much harder to afford the nutritious food children need to thrive. Tesco’s offer of a free hot balanced meal is offering support for families in a healthier way."
Elaine Hindal, CEO of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "Our next generation needs our support now more than ever. The guarantee of one free nutritious meal per day this Christmas season will provide reassurance to so many disadvantaged communities.”
In addition to Kids Eat Free, Tesco also supports families in the community through its partnership with Fareshare and the Trussell Trust. Through its Community Food Connection programme, Tesco provides surplus food to thousands of local charities and community groups. Customers can also use food sharing app, OLIO, to find free food that has been donated by Tesco.
Tesco also has long-term partnerships with health charities Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK to raise awareness about the condition risks and prevention.
