The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has published a new report showing that more companies are engaging with their communities on health topics. The annual Health & Wellness Pillar Progress Report, produced by Deloitte, highlights a 26-per-cent rise in participation in health-related programmes amongst CGF members over the past year. The report is based on a survey of 83 CGF members, who generate a combined US$2.97 trillion in revenues worldwide.

 

Over 1.6 million employees participated in health and wellness programmes over the past year. Employees form key groups within local communities and improving health in the workplace is also seen as a key step towards healthier communities. Furthermore, over half the companies surveyed (58 per cent) said they had been involved in food bank programmes, with 180 million meals distributed and in excess of 77,400 tonnes of food donated.

 

The Consumer Goods Forum’s ‘Collaboration for Healthier Lives’ (CHL) initiative, which aims to drive positive action within communities around the world, has encouraged FMCG companies to go out into communities and actively promote health and wellness.

 

In 2017, there were CHL initiatives in Colombia, Japan and the United States, with more to be rolled-out this year in Costa Rica, Mexico and the UK. Activities include distributing educational material in stores, engaging with local educational institutions, promoting the benefits of healthier choices and regular exercise through health fairs and free in-store health checks. As a result of such initiatives, local engagement is the major theme of this year’s Health & Wellness Pillar report, emphasising the benefits of retailer and manufacturer collaboration.

 

The Health & Wellness report also demonstrated that product reformulation remains a continued focus, with some 88 per cent of companies surveyed having introduced products formulated or reformulated to support healthier diets and lifestyles. There was also a 12-per-cent rise in the number of firms that are cutting salt and sugar in their products.

 

“Our ambition to empower consumers to lead healthier lives is an important long-term objective that requires sustained effort,” announced CGF Board Co-Sponsors Mark Schneider (CEO of Nestlé S.A.) and Dick Boer (Ahold Delhaize President and CEO) in a foreword to the report. “We are helping to improve the health of the communities we serve, but we know that there is so much more we can do together. Building upon our initial five-year plan from 2013, we now intend to strengthen our leadership in this area for the next five years and beyond.”

 

Download the Health & Wellness Pillar Progress Report at: www.theconsumergoodsforum.com