Drive to reduce sugar choices in remote communities

Community Enterprise Queensland and Health and Wellbeing Queensland are intensifying efforts to reduce sugary foods and drinks in remote First Nations communities, expanding an in-store campaign that targets everyday shopping decisions.

Community Enterprise Queensland, a not-for-profit remote store operator, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) are encouraging families in remote First Nations communities to rethink sugary foods and drinks as part of the latest Healthy Ways campaign focus – Real food, real energy.

The campaign runs across CEQ’s network of remote stores in North Queensland, including Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait, and rotates a new health message every eight weeks.

Key Points

The Real food, real energy focus celebrates everyday foods and drinks that help families feel fuller for longer and sustain steady energy throughout the day, supporting communities to learn, work and play.

Through healthy end displays and in-store prompts, families are being encouraged to choose snack and drink options that fuel strong bodies and minds, without the energy spikes and crashes that come with high-sugar choices. Alongside the core message, stores carry friendly reminders that read “You’re sweet enough – choose healthy ways” to prompt practical, everyday swaps at the point of purchase.

“It’s one of the most direct ways we can support the long-term health of the communities we serve,” Fred Gela, CEO of CEQ said.

Mr Gela said the organisation’s stores play a critical role in supporting healthier choices for remote families. He described Real food, real energy as designed to make it easier for people to select foods that sustain energy without relying on sugary snacks and drinks that can lead to spikes and crashes.

He added that families in the communities want to make healthy choices, and the in-store campaign provides simple, practical messages that support those choices on every shopping trip.

In-store strategies

Sugar reduction is described as a key public health priority for remote and regional Queensland communities, where rates of diet-related chronic disease – including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease – remain disproportionately high.

Beyond the Healthy Ways campaign, CEQ has introduced a range of in-store sugar-reduction strategies: promoting healthier products over sugary drinks and snacks; relocating less healthy items away from high-traffic areas; and managing the product range to ensure healthier choices are always visible, accessible and not crowded out by less healthy alternatives.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Senior Director – Prevention Systems, Dr Simone Nalatu welcomed this next stage of the ongoing Healthy Ways campaign, noting the priority of creating healthier food environments across Queensland and valuing the partnership with CEQ. She highlighted a reported shift in store environments in Far North Queensland, describing the change as meaningful progress.

Healthy Ways messages

“It’s exciting to see the next stage of the Healthy Ways campaign rolling out across the stores, as it’s already making a real difference,” Dr Nalatu said.

“In Far North Queensland, stores have reported a 10.8 per cent positive shift toward increasing the healthiness of their in-store environments; a remarkable result, especially considering that even a 1% change can influence behaviour.”

The current focus is now live across CEQ’s IBIS and ABIS stores in remote communities across North Queensland. Shoppers are being invited to look out for the Healthy Ways messages and Healthy End displays as part of the regular eight-week rotation of campaign themes.

• Healthy End displays and in-aisle prompts highlight everyday foods and drinks
• Messaging encourages steady energy and satiety over high-sugar options
• Signage reinforces “You’re sweet enough – choose healthy ways”
• Less healthy items are moved away from high-traffic locations
• Product ranges are managed so healthier options remain visible and accessible