News

Mayor delighted to launch healthier vending options across public venues in council area

20 August 2026

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council is delighted to officially announce the expansion of healthier vending machine options across its public venues following the success of a pilot programme at Foyle Arena.

The initiative supports the Department of Health's Healthy Futures Obesity Prevention Strategy, which aims to create healthier food environments across public sector settings. Working in partnership with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), local councils are introducing nutritional standards for vending services to encourage healthier choices in public spaces.

The pilot was introduced at Foyle Arena in 2025 and received a highly positive response from staff and visitors. Survey findings showed that 93% of respondents were satisfied with the revised vending machine offerings, while sales data highlighted a 26% reduction in average calories and a 35% reduction in sugar per item sold.

The nutritional standards include calorie limits on popular snacks such as crisps, chocolate and confectionery, alongside a reduction in the availability of high-sugar drinks. While the product range remains familiar, many items have been replaced with healthier alternatives.

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Grace Uí Niallais, attended the launch in Foyle Arena along with Council Officers and representatives from the Food Standards Agency.

Speaking at the launch, she said, "Supporting the health and wellbeing of our residents, visitors and staff remains a key priority for Council. The introduction of healthier vending standards is a practical step towards creating environments that make healthier choices easier and more accessible.

"The positive results from the Foyle Arena pilot demonstrate that small changes can make a real difference. We are pleased to be working with the Food Standards Agency to build on this success and support healthier lifestyles across our district."

Fionnuala Close, Head of Dietary Health, Food Standards Agency, added, “We are delighted that Derry City and Strabane District Council are joining a growing number of public sector organisations applying nutritional standards to their vending machines in a bid to improve the health of their staff and visitors.

“The wide range of lower calorie options in the machines proved popular with customers during a previous pilot exercise and we are thrilled to see this project rolled out throughout the council.”

The nutritional standards will continue to be implemented across Council facilities as opportunities for further improvements are explored.