Tesco is bringing back its free fruit giveaway for children this summer, with shoppers able to pick up complimentary apples in more than 800 stores across the UK from July 20. The supermarket’s Free Fruit for Kids scheme will run until August 30 in England and Wales, with children able to collect free apples at checkouts in more than 800 large Tesco stores and 77 larger Tesco Express branches.

Selected Click & Collect customers will also be able to pick up free apples for their children. The giveaway is part of Tesco’s wider support for families during the school holidays, when many children who receive free school meals in term time face extra pressure.

Alongside the free fruit, Tesco will continue its Kids Eat Free offer in 317 cafés across the UK. Families can claim one free children’s meal, breakfast or Pick ‘n’ Mix deal when an adult buys an item from as little as 60p and shows a Tesco Clubcard or Clubcard App.

The retailer is also encouraging shoppers to support food banks by purchasing pre-filled donation bags, costing between £2 and £4, with the contents going to charities Felix and Trussell to help families in need.

Christine Heffernan, chief communications and sustainability officer at Tesco, said: “We want to be able to support our charity partners to help those needing a little extra support this summer. Our partnerships with Felix and Trussell are central to this aim.

“When you’re out doing your weekly shop this summer, dropping a few tins into a food collection point, picking up a food donation bag in our stores or rounding up our grocery bill, can make a difference to the lives of thousands of children in communities across the UK.”

Matthew van Duyvenbode, co-chief executive officer at Trussell, said: “Our community of food banks distributed more than 900,000 parcels for children last year, demonstrating the unacceptable levels of hunger and hardship so many families are currently facing.”

Charlotte Hill, CEO at Felix, added: “We know from speaking to charities receiving food via our network that demand for food support is growing as people across the UK face cost-of-living pressures. During the school holidays, families will be facing additional financial burdens as they juggle the cost of childcare and food.”

Lidl has announced a major £500million commitment that will shape how it sources British berries over the next five years, in a move that aims to strengthen ties with UK growers and boost homegrown produce available on supermarket shelves. The discount retailer said the investment is part of new long-term agreements with British berry suppliers, designed to give farmers greater stability at a time when the sector is under pressure from rising costs, labour shortages and unpredictable weather conditions.

Under the plan, Lidl will increase the volume of UK-grown berries sold in its stores, with the £500million figure representing the total value of sourcing contracts expected over the next five years. The move comes as the German-based retailer reported that demand for berries at its supermarkets continues to grow, with sales of British blueberries having increased by more than 200% and blackberry sales by almost 93% over the past three years. Volumes of its Deluxe Blush Strawberries range, meanwhile, increased by 50% last year.

Lidl said it recorded the largest year-on-year increase in berry sales in the market last year and was recently named British Berry Retailer of the Year, according to the Grocery Gazette.

According to British Berry Growers chair, Nick Marston, Lidl’s British berry volumes increased from around 11,500 tonnes in 2023 to more than 15,700 tonnes in 2025 – a growth of more than 36% in two seasons. He added that the retailer now accounts for around 12.6% of all British berry tonnage sold through the industry body’s members.

“We are backing British farming with a £500million vote of confidence in our British berry growers,” said Lidl GB chief commercial officer, Richard Bourns. “By extending our long-term agreements, we’re providing the security suppliers need to build a resilient future.

“It is our clear ambition to be the first-choice partner for British growers. By building a framework providing long-term security, we enable our growers to confidently invest, innovate and scale alongside us.

“And by investing in these partnerships we are making fresh, healthy produce more accessible to our customers – offering the best British berries at unbeatable prices.”