In Kentucky, the Herald-Leader reports that Kroger Co. is testing a nutritional initiative at 23 stores that includes “easy-to-understand nutritional shelf tags on a majority of products, dietitians on site to assist customers and a new health station — think the old-style blood pressure machines but with many advances.”
The labeling system is the NuVal program, which evaluates every product in the store and rates them on a scale of 1-100 based on a proprietary algorithm.
The story notes that “Kroger is bringing registered dietitians in to offer scheduled tours with shoppers to help determine their individual needs. Some tours to be scheduled will focus on children. Kroger also is organizing monthly events including ‘Healthier Meal Maker’ in April and ‘Cruising the Aisles with Kroger’ in May.
“The program also includes what Kroger has dubbed LUCY. That's the LC600 Health Station, a machine that allows customers to determine weight, body mass index, blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen and more.”
The story says that if the “Health Matters At Kroger” program is successful, the retailer could roll it out nationwide.
The labeling system is the NuVal program, which evaluates every product in the store and rates them on a scale of 1-100 based on a proprietary algorithm.
The story notes that “Kroger is bringing registered dietitians in to offer scheduled tours with shoppers to help determine their individual needs. Some tours to be scheduled will focus on children. Kroger also is organizing monthly events including ‘Healthier Meal Maker’ in April and ‘Cruising the Aisles with Kroger’ in May.
“The program also includes what Kroger has dubbed LUCY. That's the LC600 Health Station, a machine that allows customers to determine weight, body mass index, blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen and more.”
The story says that if the “Health Matters At Kroger” program is successful, the retailer could roll it out nationwide.
- KC's View:
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It seems to me that creating clear synergies between food and health - and reinforcing it at every turn in the food store - is one of the best ways to create a sustainable business model that will thrive as the economy improves. I’d be surprised if Kroger does not make this work and does not expand it throughout the country.
