HFSS Changes Affecting Scottish Retailers

The Fed’s Uthay Soundararajan, a retailer based in Leith, pictured (left) taking on the Presidency of the Fed in Scotland earlier this year with his predecessor Hussan Lal (right), a retailer based in Paisley.

The Fed in Scotland is urging members to consider changes coming into force on 1 October 2026 regarding the sale of goods which are High, Fat, Sugar and Salt (HFSS) and will affect some members.

Existing similar measures have had already been in place in England and Wales.

Key points to consider are as follows:

1. Scope: They will apply to Scottish businesses with 50 or more staff or those selling food in stores larger than 2,000sq foot (approx. 185sq metres).
2. Price Promotions: For those affected shops, it will restrict multi-buy offers like “2 for the price of one” or “buy one get on free” in high sugar drinks and high calorie drinks which qualify as HFSS.
3. Prominent Locations: Restricts placements of targeted HFSS products at store checkouts, aisle-end, queuing areas and check-outs, and also on prominent online locations.
4. Fed advocacy: The Fed has been lobbying the Scottish government to ensure retailers are informed of all regulatory change and will continue to raise the concerns of Fed members in Scotland and elsewhere.
5. 50-employee business threshold: With franchises, the 50-employee limit is set by those employed by the franchisor.
6. HFSS and Nutrient Profile Modelling NPM: More information is available on the UK government website about how foods and drink are considered in scope through the NPM.
7. More information: For more information, please consult full regulations which are available on the Scottish Government website.

For more information about the Fed’s Political Engagement work on this and other topics, please email: douglas.oliver@nfrn.org.uk