Tesco is giving out free fruit in stores for five weeks, offering more savings for parents. The British supermarket, which has more than 2,800 stores across the UK, brought back its "Free Fruit for Kids" initiative in-store for five weeks and during school holidays starting from today (Monday, April 27). It comes as part of Tesco's Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, which has already reached more than 188,000 children across the UK, according to Tesco bosses.

The programme aims to encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables, as many are not getting their five-a-day. Tesco has set out its ambition to help one million schoolchildren across the UK access free fruit and vegetables through its school and community programmes by July 2029. As part of this, it is providing funding to schools to buy fruit and veg through its "Free Fruit & Veg for Schools" and "Fruit & Veg Grants" programmes. Additionally, Tesco shoppers will have the opportunity to get involved by voting in-store to award new Fruit and Veg Grants to schools and kids' groups across the UK through the blue token scheme.

Recent research from Tesco found that only one in ten children in the UK gets their five-a-day. Additionally, more than a third (37.5%) of parents say their child refuses fruit and veg altogether.

As a result, Tesco is doubling its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme from September, increasing participation from 500 to over 1,000 schools. Plus, it has plans to double this again next year.

It is also launching the Giant Fruit and Veg Challenge, which is a competition that invites children to dream up their own fruit & veg-packed dish. The winner will feature on menus across the UK, Tesco has said.

Ken Murphy, Tesco group CEO, said: "We've set out an ambition to help one million children get free fruit and veg through our school and community programmes, supporting the development of healthy habits. Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has already made, so we're delighted to be able to double the number of schools receiving support from September."

Meanwhile, Elaine Hindal, chief executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "A significant number of children in the UK are growing up with diets that don't support their health.

"Early food experiences matter, as they can help to shape children's confidence, habits and long-term health outcomes. By helping children enjoy and regularly eat fruit and vegetables from a young age, programmes like Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools can help to make a lasting difference to diet and health now and in the future."

When it comes to getting free fruit in stores, Tesco says it's focusing on the school holidays as schedules change and healthy food can be harder to come by.