Supervalu Expands Nutrition Labeling Program to Cub Foods
Supervalu’s 73-store Cub Foods unit has jumped aboard the “Nutrition iQ” program designed to help consumers make informed food choices at the supermarket shelf.
As the second of Supervalu’s nationwide family of grocery stores to launch the program that initially debuted in January 2009 at the company’s Albertsons banner, Nutrition iQ was developed in collaboration with Joslin Clinic, part of an academic medical center affiliated with Boston’s Harvard Medical School.
Using high-visibility color-coded shelf tags that appear just below an item’s price tag, the program will roll out at Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub in two phases, the first of which will focus on 2,400 center store grocery, frozen and dairy departments -- where Supervalu says research finds that people have the most frustrations and encounter the most questions regarding food labeling. Bakery, deli, meat, produce and seafood will be tagged as part of phase two.
“As a dietitian, I’ve learned that healthy eating isn’t easy, especially given the vast number of products to choose from on the grocery store shelf,” said Supervalu dietitian Heidi Diller, R.D. Likening it to “having your own personal dietitian in the store with you,” Diller said “Nutrition iQ will promote overall health by taking the guesswork out of shopping for more nutritious food choices.”
Supervalu said preliminary data from Albertsons suggests that the program has helped consumers purchase better-for-you foods. To that end, the Minneapolis-based retailer said it will roll out the program to its other stores, including Acme in Philadelphia, bigg’s in Cincinnati, Farm Fresh in Virginia, Hornbacher’s in Fargo, Jewel-Osco in Chicago, Shaw’s/Star Market in New England, Shop ’n Save in St. Louis and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, this year.
As the second of Supervalu’s nationwide family of grocery stores to launch the program that initially debuted in January 2009 at the company’s Albertsons banner, Nutrition iQ was developed in collaboration with Joslin Clinic, part of an academic medical center affiliated with Boston’s Harvard Medical School.
Using high-visibility color-coded shelf tags that appear just below an item’s price tag, the program will roll out at Stillwater, Minn.-based Cub in two phases, the first of which will focus on 2,400 center store grocery, frozen and dairy departments -- where Supervalu says research finds that people have the most frustrations and encounter the most questions regarding food labeling. Bakery, deli, meat, produce and seafood will be tagged as part of phase two.
“As a dietitian, I’ve learned that healthy eating isn’t easy, especially given the vast number of products to choose from on the grocery store shelf,” said Supervalu dietitian Heidi Diller, R.D. Likening it to “having your own personal dietitian in the store with you,” Diller said “Nutrition iQ will promote overall health by taking the guesswork out of shopping for more nutritious food choices.”
Supervalu said preliminary data from Albertsons suggests that the program has helped consumers purchase better-for-you foods. To that end, the Minneapolis-based retailer said it will roll out the program to its other stores, including Acme in Philadelphia, bigg’s in Cincinnati, Farm Fresh in Virginia, Hornbacher’s in Fargo, Jewel-Osco in Chicago, Shaw’s/Star Market in New England, Shop ’n Save in St. Louis and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, this year.