The Peas Please project launched in 2017 with a clear mission to make it easier for everyone in the UK to eat more vegetables. Since then, 110 organisations, from restaurant chains, caterers and manufacturers to growers and retailers, have committed to veg pledges that support the public to be able to access more vegetables.
Food industry pledgers have delivered an additional 1.1 billion portions of vegetables into the food systems across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since 2017.
Anna Taylor, executive director at The Food Foundation, said: “In the past many healthy eating campaigns have failed because they have tried to increase consumption by focusing solely on education. However, we know that for real change to happen at scale we need meaningful action that makes vegetables and veg rich foods more available, appealing and affordable. This needs both businesses and policymakers to play a part.
“With a real lack of action from policymakers on health and the environment, we are glad to see businesses and organisations acting for change. Through Peas Please, industry players have taken steps towards a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food system. There is still a lot more to do but the Peas Please prize winners demonstrate what can be achieved with clear targets and concrete action.”
The 2023 winners include:
- Peas Please Pledger Champion (Recognising organisations who have effectively implemented Peas Please pledges as a core part of their business proposition, including Peas Please in their company reporting, or linking their pledges to company and staff performance appraisal): Sainsbury’s
- Peas Please Individual Champion (Recognising an outstanding individual contribution by a staff member within one of our participating pledger organisations which has given inspired leadership to their organisation’s Peas Please pledge): Nicky Martin, Compass Group
- Veg-O-Meter Prize (Rewarding the biggest percentage increase in vegetable portions sold or served by pledgers between the 2019/20 and 2022/23 reporting cycles): Blackpool Catering
- Peas Please Innovation Prize (Recognising inspirational and innovative schemes to support organisational Peas Please pledges and the overall mission of boosting veg consumption): Tesco