Both Asda and Westfield have unveiled campaigns to offer children free meals this February half term.
Asda’s campaign sees the supermarket pair up with Quaker Oats to offer free bowls of porridge to children, with over 50,000 warm breakfasts expected to be served.
The new free offer means that families are now able to access both a free children’s breakfast and a main meal for just £1 in all Asda cafes in a bid to continue to help customers manage the cost-of-living crisis.
Children will be able to get a free bowl of Quaker porridge from 8am to 12pm every day in 205 Asda cafes across February half term. The promotion follows on from research that found that 81% of schools believe that child hunger has increased in their community in the last year and 94% believe poverty has increased.
“We know when families are preparing for the school holidays it can often mean an additional strain on household budgets – especially feeding and entertaining their children,” Asda chief commercial officer, Kris Comerford, said.
“Our café initiatives continue to provide a lifeline for over 1.5 million customers since we launched them last year, and we hope by offering a free warm breakfast in the February half term, it will help support many more in the coming weeks.”
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As for Westfield London’s free meal campaign, the shopping centre brand has announced the return of its ‘Kids Eat Free’ meal offer at 29 of its casual dining restaurants in both its Westfield London and Stratford City centres.
Running from 11 to 19 February, the offer intends to support families from local communities in East and West London, as well as wider London, who want to keep the cost of dining out as a ‘family down’.
Children under 12 will be able to eat free – accompanied by one paying adult – in restaurants including Franco Manca, Busaba, YO! Sushi, Las Iguanas, Cabana, Bill’s, The Real Greek and Big Easy.
Westfield London general manager, Katie Wyle, added: “We recognise how hard it can be for parents and caregivers to keep children entertained during the school holidays without the added pressure of costs such as eating out.
“We’re delighted that so many of our newest and most popular family-friendly restaurants and eateries have once again committed to helping families with the cost of living this half term.”
