Since its launch into the foodservice sector, the Heart Foundation has helped its Tick licensees offer Australians healthier meals and now they are planning to expand its use to healthier snacks sold at food outlets.

The Heart Foundation reported that ‘Tick’ options at foodservice outlets had been well received by customers and companies using the Tick had even unexpectedly uncovered greater business efficiencies and profitability across many areas of their businesses.

Coral Colyer, Food Supply Operations Manager at the Heart Foundation believes that, with more than 1.3 billion snacks purchased outside home every year, it made sense to expand the Tick to such products.

“This extension provides opportunities for existing licensees to grow their range of Tick approved foods and opens new doors for those who have not been able to offer Tick choices previously,” she said. “Tick can help attract people to your outlet. Almost one in five Australians is already looking out for Tick in foodservice outlets, just as they’ve sought it in the supermarket over the past two decades.”

Healthier snacks such as dried and fresh fruit, yoghurt, nut and seeds, and scoop ice-cream as well as fruit and vegetable juices can now earn the Tick if they meet Heart Foundation nutrition standards.

“Beyond the backing of the Heart Foundation and the satisfaction of providing guaranteed healthier choices, the benefits of working with Tick can be unexpected, like Crust Gourmet Pizza’s recent innovation award,” Ms Colyer added.

Through developing innovative toppings to meet the Tick standards, Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar’s six Heart Foundation Tick approved pizzas were named the most innovative food and 15th most innovative products in Australian Anthill magazine’s inaugural SMART 100 index.

Similarly, commercial caterer Delaware North has also experienced growing demand for healthier options, doubling its healthier food outlets at Etihad Stadium in less than 12 months. Delaware North also offers Tick approved meals at Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Zoo.

“Australians are spending more than a third of their food budget eating out. Eight out of 10 of these customers want help identifying healthier choices and, importantly, will seek out businesses that offer them,” Ms Colyer advised. “Offering healthier choices is simply good for business.”

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