Nutrition

ALPA Health & Nutrition Strategy

The ALPA Health and Nutrition Strategy was first developed in the 1980s by the ALPA Board of Directors to improve the health and wellbeing of communities. One of the first actions of the strategy was to initiate an 100% freight subsidy on select fresh fruit, bringing the price down for customers. This strong action remains firmly in place today and has been expanded to more healthy food commodities.

The objectives of the strategy are to:

• Increase the availability of nutritious food and drinks
• Increase the affordability of nutritious food and drinks
• Support customers to make healthy food and drink choices
• Increase awareness and understanding of health and nutrition

Freight subsidy

ALPA member Stores (Elcho Island, Buthan, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Gapuwiyak and Majila) self-fund an 100% freight subsidy on all fruit and vegetables (fresh, frozen, tinned), dairy (fresh milk, powdered milk, cheese, yoghurt), fresh meat and select infant foods.

This freight subsidy reduces the prices on these products by approximately 20%. Independent store boards self-fund a freight subsidy on fresh fruit and vegetables.

The ALPA team, work with Independent store boards to increase the range of products included in this freight subsidy as stores are financially able.

Additional to the healthy food freight subsidy, ALPA maintain minimum marks-ups on healthy items and preferentially price water and non-sugary drinks to ensure they are a cheaper price than sugar-sweetened drinks.

ALPA promote the display of healthy food and drinks and limit the display of less healthy food and drinks in high traffic areas of our stores, including registers and end of aisles. We do not promote unhealthy foods and drinks. Our stores are merchandised in a way that encourages purchasing of healthy foods and drinks.

The ALPA Nutrition policy outlines minimum stocking requirements for healthy lines, maximum pack sizes for unhealthy foods, product, placement and promotion requirements stocking requirements for each food category. The policy is updated regularly to reflect current guidelines, store licensing requirements and evidenced based healthy retailing practices. 

Focus areas for health and nutrition

The Nutrition team report quarterly on nutrition and health focused KPIs including:

• Increasing fruit and vegetable sales
• Increasing healthy prepared food sales
• Decreasing sugar sales from unhealthy food and drinks
• Decreasing sales of tobacco

Our team work closely with suppliers, store boards, researchers and the broader retail team to introduce new strategies in store that support these key focuses.

The strategy and policy link back to ALPAs mission to improve health and quality of life of its members. ALPA aims to present a balanced range of products to customers.