Not-for-profit remote store operator Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) and Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) are encouraging families in remote First Nations communities to rethink sugary foods and drinks as part of the latest Healthy Ways campaign focus – Real food, real energy.
Healthy Ways shines a light on a new health message every eight weeks across CEQ’s network of remote stores in North Queensland, including Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait.
The current focus, Real food, real energy, celebrates everyday foods and drinks that help families feel fuller for longer and sustain steady energy throughout the day – supporting communities to learn, work and play.
Through healthy end displays and in-store prompts, families are being encouraged to choose snack and drink options that fuel strong bodies and minds, without the energy spikes and crashes that come with high-sugar choices.
Alongside the positive Real food, real energy message, friendly reminders are placed throughout stores sharing the message “You’re sweet enough – choose healthy ways”, prompting families to consider practical, everyday swaps when they shop.
CEQ Chief Operating Officer Fred Gela said the organisation’s stores played a critical role in supporting healthier choices for remote families.
“In remote communities, the local store is often the main place families shop for food – so what’s on the shelves and how it’s presented really matters, and is a powerful lever for positive health change,” Mr Gela said.
“Real food, real energy is about making it easier for people to choose foods that keep them feeling strong and full of energy, without relying on sugary snacks and drinks that spike and crash.
“We know families in our communities want to make healthy choices, and the Healthy Ways campaign gives them simple, practical messages in-store that support those choices – every shop, every week.
“It’s one of the most direct ways we can support the long-term health of the communities we serve.”
Sugar reduction is a key public health priority for remote and regional Queensland communities, where rates of diet-related chronic disease – including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease – remain disproportionately high.
Beyond the Healthy Ways campaign, CEQ has introduced a range of in-store sugar-reduction strategies – promoting healthier products over sugary drinks and snacks, relocating less healthy items away from high-traffic areas, and managing its product range to ensure healthier choices are always visible, accessible and not crowded out by less healthy alternatives.
Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Senior Director – Prevention Systems, Dr Simone Nalatu welcomed this next stage of the ongoing Healthy Ways campaign.
“Creating healthier food environments across Queensland is a key priority for Health and Wellbeing Queensland,’ Dr Nalatu said. “We deeply value our partnership with CEQ and the incredible work being done in their stores to support this mission.
“It’s exciting to see the next stage of the Healthy Ways campaign rolling out across the stores, as it’s already making a real difference. In Far North Queensland, stores have reported a 10.8% positive shift toward increasing the healthiness of their in-store environments; a remarkable result, especially considering that even a 1% change can influence behaviour.”
The Real food, real energy campaign is now live across CEQ’s IBIS and ABIS stores in remote communities across North Queensland. Look out for Healthy Ways messages and Healthy End displays in your local CEQ store.
Supported by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Healthy Ways is part of CEQ’s broader commitment to building healthier, more resilient communities across northern Queensland – guided by the organisation’s vision of Caring, every day, always, and its Nutrition and Health Strategy 2023-2027.
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About CEQ
CEQ is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for providing goods and essential services to the Torres Strait, Cape York Peninsula and in Doomadgee and on Palm Island through its 31 stores. Of all the remote team members employed at CEQ, 90 per cent identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
CEQ manages Islanders Board of Industry and Service (IBIS) and Aboriginal Business, Industry and Service (ABIS) stores, as well as other stores including Col Jones, Mona’s Bazaar and Mitre 10 on Waibene and Community Home & Hardware in Bamaga.
For more information on CEQ, visit www.ceqld.org.au
