Has Tesco pulled the plug on pester power?

Supermarket giant Tesco announced this morning that sweets and chocolate are to be removed from checkouts across its UK stores.

In a move likely to be welcomed by stressed-out mums doing the weekly shop, the retail giant announced that, in future, confectionery would be confined to the aisles rather than displayed at checkouts where parents have to hang around, often with toddlers in tow.

Changes are being made to stores right away, with Tesco expecting them to be complete by December.

Tesco say they have made the move in response to customer research that showed 67% of parents thought that sweetie-free checkouts would help them make healthier choices for their kids’ diets.

The immediate changes for everyday shopping won’t be that dramatic. They they will mostly affect Tesco’s smaller outlets, such as Tesco Express and Metro convenience stores. The company removed checkout confectionery at its larger stores back in 1994.

Chief Executive Philip Clarke said, ‘we all know how easy it is to be tempted by sugary snacks at the checkout, and we want to help our customers lead healthier lives.

‘We're doing this now because our customers have told us that removing sweets and chocolates from checkouts will help them make healthier choices.’

Tesco seems keen to use the change to plug its parent-friendly credentials. The retail giant last month announced a second successive fall in annual profits, and has recently upset some mums and dads over its nut-labelling policy.

The latest move will likely be warmly welcomed – and Tesco will be hoping that it will strengthen its brand with mums and dads.