Portuguese retailer Continente has reformulated more than 538 private-label products in the past three years, removing approximately 860 tonnes of sugar and 120 tonnes of salt.
In addition, the supermarket chain said it has removed palm oil from around 92 SKUs.
Salt and sugar has been reduced in products such as yoghurts, breakfast cereals, cookies, soft drinks, potato French fries, tomato pulp and take-away soups.
The changes were implemented on a gradual basis, such as in the case of the sugar content of liquid yoghurts and salt in take-away soups, so that consumers would not experience a big difference in taste, the company added.
Moreover, Continente has eliminated all added salt from its tomato pulp SKU.
'No Compromise'
Mayumi Delgado, responsible for Continente's nutrition team said, "The reductions in sugar and salt have been made without compromising our customers' eating habits, or without them even noticing these changes in taste.
The brand has also identified other ingredients that can have a negative impact on customers' health through repetitive or excessive consumption.
These include flavour enhancers, such as monosodium glutamate, hydrogenated fats, among various other additives, and the retailer is working to minimise, or even eliminate them, whenever possible.
Traffic Light Labelling
Continente has also invested in the nutritional literacy of consumers through the Nutrition Traffic Light labelling on the front of packages, which shows simplified information about the nutrients that, in excess, can be a serious problem for health.
Via a colour code, the traffic light shows the concentration of sugar, salt, fat and saturated fat (green - low, yellow - moderate and red - high).
The retailer is also expanding its Continente Equilíbrio brand, and has added specific products, such as yoghurts, juices and cereals.
© 2023 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest Private Label news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
