Now the UK has healthier standards for food and drink provided in schools - they are based on nutritional values and have to provide key nutrients with restrictions on other ingredients. Only milk, plain water, pure fruit juice and combination drinks using these ingredients are permitted in schools. These regulations support the wider need for ongoing education, healthier diets and more exercise for children to halt the current obesity crisis.
Calypso Soft Drinks has supplied schools with pure fruit juice and mineral water drinks which comply since the introduction of the regulations. Supplied to schools through both school canteens and in vending, Calypso is the number one provider of ‘Juicy Water' drinks across thousands of UK primary and secondary schools, leading with its flagship brand Calypso Aquajuice 67.
We offer the widest range of school approved products and formats for all ages. With fifty years experience in fruit juice and water drinks, our products are unique - for example, Calypso Aquajuice 67 includes 67% juice and 33% natural mineral water from our own source. We have a unique blending process which ensures our fruit blend of pure fruit juices appeal to children's tastes.
We regularly conduct consumer research and our surveys show very clearly that ‘Juicy Waters' - a blend of fruit juice and natural mineral water - are preferred by children of all ages, over either pure fruit juice drinks or natural mineral water drinks. They are naturally refreshing, offer rehydration, they taste good with fruit providing natural sweetness, they fulfil part of the 5-a-day intake* and there is a wide variety of fruits to choose from.
This reflects ongoing growth trends in the total soft drinks market - sales of plain bottled water has slowed (15% of total market); Still and Juice drinks remain steady (10% of total market) as are pure fruit juices (10% of total soft drinks market).
For schools to ensure they match the best value with the most refreshing, appealing as well as healthy drinks, we recommend they follow School Food Trust Guidelines and pick trusted brands who comply. Obviously schools have limited budgets and a highly competitive price point is key for them and for caterers - drinks have to be affordable yet healthy. This is always top of mind and what we seek to provide.
Scottish schools lead the way in achieving all key goals to meet the challenge of healthier, more active children. Their example is worth following in terms of proactively and positively making fundamental, changes in school catering and ultimately they plan to provide free school meals to younger age groups in primary schools. I suspect others will follow and that has got to be a good thing.
Calypso believes that promoting healthier living needs a holistic approach - it is about much more than nutrition, its also about exercise and education. The company has been a big supporter of sport for schools for many years - this year we are launching a UK wide ‘Surf Anywhere' sporting campaign to tie in with our sponsorship of the British Junior Surf Team. We are bringing this uniquely appealing sport into towns and cities across the UK offering children the chance to try ‘streetsurfing' which mimics surfing without the need for a beach!
Calypso is working with School Sports Partnerships with our friends at the British Surfing Association (BSA) and will be taking surf lessons and streetsurfing into schools to encourage children aged 11-14yrs to ‘have a go'. It is considered very cool and is a proven way to get kids active, even if they don't normally participate in sports.
(*for products over 250ml)
Tel: 01978 668400
