Reaching for a last-minute chocolate bar at the supermarket checkout could soon become less common in Abu Dhabi.
As part of the Abu Dhabi Healthy Living programme, supermarkets across the emirate have been directed to remove less nutritious products from high-traffic areas, including store entrances, aisle ends and checkout counters.
Often described as “temptation zones”, these prominent spaces are designed to encourage impulse purchases. Under the new approach, shoppers may notice fewer chocolates, sweets, crisps and other snack foods displayed beside the tills or positioned at the end of busy aisles.
The changes are also being supported by the introduction of Nutri-Mark labels on packaged foods. The system grades products from A to E according to their nutritional value, helping shoppers make more informed choices while browsing the shelves. Where a Nutri-Mark label is not displayed, customers can check the product’s classification through the TAMM app.
Carrefour stores in Abu Dhabi have already started introducing the new measures, with social media posts suggesting the retailer could eventually extend the initiative to more branches.
The idea is not to completely remove less healthy options, but to make them less difficult to resist. By changing where certain products are placed, the initiative could help reduce unplanned purchases made out of habit, boredom or while waiting at the checkout.
The directive forms part of Abu Dhabi’s wider focus on healthier living, alongside tighter rules surrounding fast-food advertising and improved nutritional standards for school meals.
Rather than limiting what shoppers can buy, the programme aims to create a retail environment where making a healthier choice feels a little more natural.
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