Arsenal Stadium joins SUGAR SMART campaign as part of Islington launch

Islington is the 12th London borough to join the SUGAR SMART Campaign network. Led by Islington Council, the campaign set its sights on some of the biggest and most iconic food providers in the borough for a joined-up approach to promote healthier eating and make healthier choices more accessible.

11 Islington organisations have signed up ahead of the launch, including school meals provider Caterlink, leisure provider GLL, London Metropolitan University, and Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club. This is the first Premier League venue to join the SUGAR SMART network.

The council is asking for more organisations to sign up on the SUGAR SMART website, pledge to make healthy, low-sugar foods and drinks more affordable and accessible and to spread the word to customers, employees, suppliers and others. 

Cllr Janet Burgess, executive member for health and social care and deputy leader of Islington Council said:

We want to encourage all organisations in Islington, particularly those who regularly serve food and drinks to children and young people, to sign up to our SUGAR SMART Islington campaign and commit to making healthier choices more affordable and accessible to Islington residents. 

In 2017, over 20% of 5-year-olds in Islington had experienced tooth decay at some point in their short lives so sugar consumption is a clear and present threat to the health of our future generations.

Caterlink, who work with a number of other SUGAR SMART campaigns, including Isle of Wight and Hackney, are a key local partner of the campaign as it ties in with their existing sugar reduction programme. Caterlink have already removed the equivalent to 250 tonnes of sugar per school that they work in.

Martyn Lewis, a contract manager with leisure provider GLL said:

GLL are proud to support the SUGAR SMART Islington campaign. We have already signed up to the Healthier Catering Commitment for our onsite café at the Sobell Leisure Centre in Islington and we are improving drinking water provision at all of our centres in the borough.

Yvette Chatwin at Delaware North said:

Delaware North at Emirates Stadium are supporting the SUGAR SMART Islington Campaign. We have already reduced the sugary drinks available around the stadium complex and over the coming year we will be introducing more healthy choices at Emirates Stadium.

SUGAR SMART is a campaign run by Sustain. SUGAR SMART is one of the featured campaigns in the UK's Sustainable Food Cities Network.