SPAR Austria has successfully reduced the amount of sugar in SPAR Own Brand products by 1,000 tonnes since the beginning of 2017, supporting consumers in reducing their sugar consumption. Speaking at a sugar reduction summit held last week, SPAR Austria CEO Dr Gerhard Drexel, reaffirmed SPAR’s resolve to continue cutting sugar from own brand products to help consumers live a healthy life. He also called on retailers, the food industry, and politicians to continue taking the health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption seriously. 

During a sugar reduction summit organised by SPAR Austria, food and beverage manufacturers and medical professionals presented on the first sugar reduction successes as well as the latest medical knowledge regarding excessive sugar consumption. The summit is part of a sugar reduction initiative launched by SPAR Austria in April 2019 to promote the removal of excess sugar from products and to encourage all sectors of society to take action in favour of a sugar-reduced diet.

SPAR Austria is working with the Austrian Medical Association, the Austrian Obesity Society, the Special Institute for Preventive Cardiology and Nutrition (SIPCAN), the Austrian Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the Austrian Anti-Aging Society, as well as industry players such as Rauch Fruit Juices and Berglandmilch Dairy Manufacturers. 

Sugar reduction remains a key objective at SPAR

A recent Austrian survey conducted by Marketagent.com found that while a growing number of Austrians is aware of the dangers of consuming too much sugar, 92% of those surveyed seriously underestimate their consumption.

“We reduced 1,000 tonnes of sugar in our SPAR Own Brand products a year earlier than originally expected, without replacing the saved sugar with artificial sweeteners. And now the next step follows”, said SPAR CEO Dr Gerhard Drexel. “We have renewed our goal and want to save a total of 2,000 tonnes of sugar by the end of 2021.”

Commenting on the results of the opinion poll, Drexel emphasised that “food should be a means of life, and that is why SPAR bears great social responsibility.”

“The sugar reduction amount of the partners in the sugar reduction initiative will be over 6,700 tons from the beginning of 2017 to the end of 2019”, he added. 

Source: SPAR Austria

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About SPAR Austria

The origins of SPAR in Austria date back to 1954, but the current SPAR AG was created in 1970 when the original founding families joined with other regional wholesalers to form SPAR Austria AG – a 100% privately owned Austrian company.

With licences granted by SPAR International, ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) has developed SPAR in Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, and Northern Italy.