Lidl is investing £500,000 over two years to expand its schools programme – Lidl Foodies – to encourage healthy eating.

The free initiative, which provides interactive workshops on fruit and vegetables, aims to reach a quarter of a million primary school pupils in the first year.

The programme comes as research reveals that over two thirds (73%) of teachers are not teaching diet diversity in healthy eating programmes, citing lack of curriculum time, resources, or training as key barriers.

Since launching in October 2024, the initiative has already engaged over 130,000 pupils across more than 1,000 schools – over half of which are in deprived areas.

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The programme provides teachers with ready-made workshop plans via the National Schools Partnership. As part of the first module, ‘Lidl Tasters’, teachers were given access to £100 Lidl vouchers to buy fruit and veg for in-class tastings.

Following its success, the discounter is expanding the programme with two new modules this school year, including ‘Lidl Growers’ this Spring – teaching children how fruit and veg is grown and where their food comes from, and ‘Lidl Makers’ this Summer – encouraging children to try new ingredients and learn simple, healthy recipes.

Lidl GB head of corporate affairs Georgina Hall said: “We’re giving children the opportunity to explore different fruits and vegetables, broaden their knowledge of nutritious foods, and discover what they enjoy.

“Through this approach, we’re not only supporting healthier habits in the classroom, but also helping parents make mealtimes easier and more enjoyable at home. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to see how the programme will grow and develop.

“Ultimately, our goal is to inspire a new generation of foodies who not only embrace healthy food but also recognise the importance of fresh fruit and veg for a lifetime of well-being.”