Supermarket giant Tesco is launching a major healthy eating initiative to kick off the new year, bringing back its popular free fruit scheme for children.
Free Apples for Families at Checkouts
From Tuesday, December 30, 2025, until Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Tesco will run its 'Less to pay for 5-a-day' campaign. The scheme allows children shopping with their families to pick up a free apple at the checkout in stores across the country.
Ashwin Prasad, Tesco's UK Chief Executive, emphasised the company's commitment: "We’re committed to making healthy choices easier, quicker and better value for our customers." He added that through offers and free fruit, the supermarket aims to make healthy eating fun for the entire nation.
Supporting British Growers and Schools
The apples provided will all be British-grown, sourced from six different suppliers across the UK. This initiative is an extension of Tesco’s broader Fruit and Veg for Schools programme, which last academic year supported around 140,000 children with over 10 million portions of fruit and vegetables.
Over the two-week campaign period, Tesco expects to distribute more than three million free apples. The offer is also available to users of the Click and Collect service, who can collect free apples for their children at 119 of Tesco's larger stores.
A Wider January Health Campaign
The free fruit scheme is just one part of a wider health-focused campaign Tesco is running throughout January. The supermarket has outlined several other initiatives designed to encourage healthier choices:
- From January 12, selected customers can earn Clubcard points through 'Clubcard Challenges' by purchasing items like fresh and frozen fruit and veg, beans, pulses, and canned goods.
- The January edition of the Tesco Magazine will feature a six-page spread with inspirational five-a-day recipes.
- Tesco's social media channels will share healthy food content, highlighting the value of getting your five-a-day.
- A refreshed 5-a-day hub on the Tesco Real Food website will offer new recipe ideas.
- New Clubcard Prices and offers will be available on fruit and vegetables, alongside weekly 'Fresh 5' offers on five-a-day basics.
This concerted effort underscores Tesco's strategy to combine value with health promotion, using its scale to make nutritious eating more accessible as families start the new year.
