BOGOF chocolate bar deals could come to an end under new legislation to curb obesity

dailystar.co.uk:

Legal changes could mean the end of BOGOF chocolate bar deals - but more than four in ten business owners are not prepared for the ruling to come in.New legislation, due to be implemented from 1 October, means products high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) will be banned from “appealing” spots on store shelves.In a bid to curb unnecessary intake of unhealthy items, consumers will also no longer see sweet treats on offer near any entry point or checkout.Advertising across all media will be affected, with commercials no longer allowed to run before 9pm, and limitations on social media promotions imposed from the 1 January next year.However, exemptions will be in place to protect businesses who have small premises or less than 50 employees.But research has revealed just one in three businesses have checked their products ahead of the landmark legislation, which aims to curb Britain’s obesity crisis in one of the biggest shake-ups the retail sector has faced.And a quarter have not even considered auditing their products at all, with one in five businesses unaware of the new legislation altogether.The study, commissioned by global standards organisation GS1 UK, of 400 managers and business owners in the food and drink industry, revealed that more than four in ten feel unprepared for the changes.And three-quarters (73%) are unaware that volume promotions, such as BOGOF offers, will be banned.It also emerged just one in three businesses are training staff on the new rules, while 35% are auditing suppliers, and 48% are reworking existing products.Meanwhile two-thirds said more financial support from the government is needed to help them adapt - with 81% predicting the new rules will change how their business operates.Anne Godfrey,.