The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is out with its annual Retailer Contributions to Health and Wellness report, concluding that "the majority (90%) of survey respondents report having an established health and wellness program and about half (49%) have programs for both employees and customers." This, the study says, represents "an 86% increase in health and wellness activity since 2017."
The study also says that 71 percent of food retailers see health and wellness programs as a business growth opportunity, and 63 percent see it "as a way to meet consumer expectations."
More from the study:
"To ensure a high level of health and wellness offerings, 85% of survey respondents report employing registered dietitians. Of those, 70% employ these nutrition experts at the corporate level while 27% employ them regionally. In addition, one in three grocery stores report having an in-store clinic for shoppers with about half of these clinics owned and operated by a health system organization."
However, the study also suggests that opportunities remain: "According to this year’s survey, 94% of retailers who responded offer online shopping, yet only 70% extend their health and wellness initiatives to those online shoppers."
The study also says that 71 percent of food retailers see health and wellness programs as a business growth opportunity, and 63 percent see it "as a way to meet consumer expectations."
More from the study:
"To ensure a high level of health and wellness offerings, 85% of survey respondents report employing registered dietitians. Of those, 70% employ these nutrition experts at the corporate level while 27% employ them regionally. In addition, one in three grocery stores report having an in-store clinic for shoppers with about half of these clinics owned and operated by a health system organization."
However, the study also suggests that opportunities remain: "According to this year’s survey, 94% of retailers who responded offer online shopping, yet only 70% extend their health and wellness initiatives to those online shoppers."
- KC's View:
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I've been saying this for years - that retailers able to draw a direct line between food and health/wellness programs, making them differentiated and actionable for shoppers, are going to have a competitive advantage.
