Expert Blog

Retailers nationwide understand that today’s consumers are savvier when it comes to making buying decisions thanks to technology and access to more information than ever before. So, with the holidays officially here, how are food retailers helping shoppers make healthy choices?

As food retailers continue to focus on health and wellness, many are doing their part to meet the needs of their health conscious customers by:

• Expanding their product lines to meet the needs of shoppers with dietary restrictions
• Serving as the “go to” resource for recipes, health advice, etc.
• Educating their employees on nutrition and exercise

Hy-Vee, a regional supermarket chain based in Iowa, offers a number of programs to help shoppers in their stores make healthy decisions when it comes to planning their holiday menus—everything from the appetizers to the trimmings.

“We have a number of programs in place during the holiday season,” says Helen Eddy, Assistant Vice President of Health and Wellness and Executive Director of the Healthiest State Initiative, “We have dietitians available in stores to answer shoppers’ questions, as well as, online.”

“Our stores also sponsor holiday shows during the season where shoppers can get new entertaining ideas and recipes.”

These programs are not only geared to shoppers. “Our employees are our brand ambassadors … it is important that we make dietitians available to them as well as, educate them on portion control and the NuVal® Nutritional scoring system."

What can other retailers learn from Hy-Vee?

• Make your nutrition experts accessible during the holiday season. Extend hours for dietitians starting days before Thanksgiving and Christmas to answer any questions at your locations. Also, consider offering tips on your social media pages, emails, etc.
• Educate shoppers and employees on healthy substitutions for dips and desserts in your offline and online materials.   For example, use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream in your dips and opt for veggies and baked products instead of corn chips.
• Address shoppers who have dietary restrictions. When it comes to this time of year, many of us fix ourselves on the traditional trimmings, using lots of flour, creams, etc. Have resources available online and host special events. Hy-Vee hosts gluten free holiday galas at its locations where they share their gluten free products.

What are you doing in your stores to help shoppers make healthy choices this holiday season?