Sue Couter, Comms, Campaigns and Healthy Sustainable Diets at Tesco joined The Healthy Sustainability Diets Accelerator to “be part of the industry-wide solution.”
Here’s why Sue joined, and her vision for a better food future: What motivated you to join the Healthy Sustainable Diets Accelerator?
“I’ve been at Tesco Plc over a decade, leading a mixture of food education, health, community engagement and young people’s programmes. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with the UK’s leading health charities – Diabetes UK, Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation – as well as the WWF and The Jamie Oliver Group. As someone who grew up in the US as part of a Mediterranean family, and with two teens of my own, I understand the conflicts around good food and would love to be part of the industry-wide solution.”
As someone advocating for a positive future in food, who inspires you, and why?
“Honestly, I think there is much we can learn from Mediterranean food culture. The simplicity, the joy, the community. Humble, seasonal ingredients are celebrated and knowledge is shared through the generations. What’s on offer is primarily what’s in season. People relish cooking and eating together – it’s a source of pride.”
Do you think the food industry should combine Net Zero and health strategies?
“In my view, health should be prioritised alongside the planet. Poor health is a drain on individuals, families, the NHS, the economy. The planetary agenda is very important, but we’ll need healthy people to drive it forward.”
What advice would you most like to give the CEOs of UK food businesses?
“Continue to consider how future manufacturing and retailing can celebrate the principles of healthy and sustainable diets – in physical spaces, online and through social media. Invest more in offers on healthy food, provide education for young people and their families. Collaborate with the wider food industry so that there is a powerful, aligned movement that makes healthier and more sustainable choices easier and more desirable for everyone. It’s in everyone’s interest to build up healthy and sustainable communities.”
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