With the start of the new season, WSL Football have agreed a new multi-year deal with Tesco, Britain’s favourite supermarket*, to become the Official Supermarket Partner of the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Super League 2.
The partnership has a common goal of making healthy eating more accessible to children through the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, as well as encouraging more people to attend and engage with the Barclays WSL and Barclays WSL2.
Tesco's Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme helps schools provide children with access to free fruit and vegetables during the school day, supporting healthy eating habits from an early age. Tesco has set an ambition to help one million children access free fruit and veg through its school and community programmes, with this partnership providing a new platform to grow awareness, participation and impact.
Every fan matters in this partnership. Every attendance at a Barclays WSL and Barclays WSL2 match this season will contribute towards a donation from WSL Football to Tesco’s Fruit & Veg for Schools programme**. The bigger the crowds, the bigger the impact.
By combining WSL Football's ambition to grow match attendance and engage more fans with supporting Tesco’s ambition to support schools and community programmes, the partnership will help drive greater awareness of the Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme and improve access to healthy food in schools to help build lifelong healthy eating habits and deliver meaningful benefits for communities across the country. Additionally, Tesco will bring its product development, supplier base and nutritional expertise to support WSL Football with its Health and Nutrition agenda.
This partnership with Tesco reinforces the positive momentum around women’s football and adds to WSL Football’s world-leading roster of partners who share the collective ambition to create positive impact both on and beyond the pitch.
Suzanne Quinn, Customer Director, Tesco, said:
“We’re very excited to partner with the WSL Football to help support our Free Fruit and Veg for Schools programme, while driving attendance at matches this season. We’re committed to supporting the health of communities around the country, and we know that keeping active and making healthier choices are fundamental to this mission. We’ve set an ambition to help one million children access free fruit and veg through our school and community programmes, and this partnership is a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness of that work through the growing popularity of women’s football.
“It is such an exciting time for the game, and we’re proud to collaborate with WSL Football to not only support the women’s football, but also inspire the next generation of players and fans.”
Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Officer, WSL Football, says:
“We are thrilled that our final Official Partner is one of the most recognisable names in the country. Tesco's decision to come on board is a real endorsement of the direction of travel and a testament to the momentum behind the women’s game.
A key priority for WSL Football and our clubs is driving attendance, and this unique collaboration with Tesco offers real mutual benefit. From working with local communities and schools to ensure more children are making healthier choices to unlocking a partnership which will benefit the health and nutrition of our players.
The partnerships we have built are helping to transform women’s football, and we hope this partnership can go some way towards transforming society too, by helping to build healthy habits for children across the country.”