You’re absolutely right! Scotland is indeed implementing new rules that will significantly change how products high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) are displayed and promoted in supermarkets.
**Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening:**
* **Target:** Products categorized as high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS).
* **Key Restrictions:**
1. **Prominent Placement Bans:** Retailers will be prohibited from placing HFSS products in key “impulse buy” locations. This includes:
* **Store entrances and exits**
* **Checkout areas and queuing aisles**
* **Gondola ends (the ‘end of the aisle’ displays you mentioned, where you might typically find promotional cereals or chocolates)**
* **Island displays**
2. **Volume-Based Promotion Bans:** Certain multi-buy offers and unlimited refills on HFSS products will be restricted, such as:
* **”Buy One Get One Free” (BOGOF)**
* **”3 for 2″ or similar multi-buy deals**
* **Restrictions on promotional pricing for HFSS if tied to volume.**
* **Why the change?** The Scottish Government’s primary objective is to improve public health by tackling high rates of obesity and diet-related diseases. By making it harder for consumers to make impulse purchases of less healthy options, they hope to encourage healthier eating habits and reduce overall consumption of HFSS foods.
* **The Meal Deal Lives On:** This is a crucial exemption. As you noted, the beloved “meal deal” will remain unaffected by these new restrictions. This is often because meal deals are seen as offering a convenient, often fixed-price option that can include healthier components, and are viewed differently from the more explicit “volume-driven” HFSS promotions.
**What this means for shoppers:**
* You’ll likely see a noticeable shift in store layouts. Healthier alternatives or non-HFSS products may take pride of place in previously restricted promotional areas.
* It aims to make it easier for consumers to make healthier choices and reduce impulse buys of HFSS products.
* Your favorite sugary cereal might still be available, but you’ll have to look for it within the main aisle rather than at the prominent end display.
**For supermarkets and food manufacturers:**
* It means rethinking merchandising strategies, product placement, and potentially even product reformulation to avoid the restrictions and remain competitive.
Overall, these new rules represent a significant step in Scotland’s public health strategy, aiming to reshape the retail environment to support healthier diets.
