– Etymology:
– The term “tuck” originates from phrases like “to tuck into a meal.”
– “Tucker” in Australian English means food.
– Tuck shops sell confectionery, sandwiches, sweets, crisps, and soft drinks.
– The term may have arisen from the Tuck family’s shops in England in the 18th and 19th centuries.
– Thomas and William Tuck opened stores in Australia in the mid-19th century.
– Use of the term:
– Advertisers and retailers often use the name “tuck shop” for promotion.
– Some shops are named “The Tuck Shop” or “The Tucky” for nostalgia.
– Examples include The Tuck Shop and The Alternative Tuck Shop in Oxford, UK.
– Healthy tuck shops:
– UK governments promote healthy eating in schools, leading to scrutiny of food sales.
– National, regional, and local governments advocate for healthy tuck shops.
– Some schools offer healthier options like brown bread, milk, fruit juice, and rice cakes.
– Fruit tuck shops have faced challenges due to revenue drops and student preferences.
– Queensland, Australia implemented a traffic-light system for school canteens in 2007.
– See also:
– Bodega, convenience store, and snack bar are related to tuck shops.
– Look up “tuck shop” for more information.
– References:
– The Baby Tuck Shop in Toronto provides essential items to families.
– The northern suburbs of Haggerston and Hackney have historical references.
– Various studies and documents provide information on healthy tuck shops.
– Charities and organizations support the establishment of fruit tuck shops.
– Research and pilot schemes have been conducted in different regions.
A tuck shop is a small retailer located either within or close-to the grounds of a school, hospital, apartment complex, or other similar facility. In traditional British usage, tuck shops are associated chiefly with the sale of confectionery, sweets, or snacks and are common at private ('fee-paying') schools. Tuck shops located within a campus are often the only place where monetary transactions may be made by students. As such, they may also sell items of stationery or other related school items. In some regions, the words 'tuck shop' may be interchangeable with a 'canteen'. The term is used in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Nigeria, Pakistan, India, Jamaica, Hong Kong, Botswana, The Bahamas and in other parts of the former British Empire.
In Australia, at youth clubs, campsites, and schools, the tuck shop is mainly staffed by volunteers from the community, which may include students, parents and, in the case of clubs, its members. The term is also used in Indian boarding schools. In Canada, summer camps often have tuck shops for the same reason, to allow campers to buy small items while away from home. Some hospitals in Canada have tuck shops too, though now it's more common for them to be called gift shops.
Tuck shops in a long-term care facility typically sell personal hygiene items such as razors, soap, and shampoo.
