Progressive Grocer - March 2009 - (Page 10)

On demand ONLINE Front End Retail news and trends analysis The top stories people were reading in recent weeks on Progressivegrocer.com: 1. Penn Traffic Shutting Eight Locations 2. Campbell Further Reduces Sodium in Kids’ Soups Health & Wellness 3. High Commodity Costs Have Kellogg Raising Prices Ahold Banners Launch ‘Major Consumer Wellness Initiative’ s part of what the Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. and Giant Food, LLC have described as “a major consumer wellness initiative,” the chains introduced in January a free prescription program encompassing 36 generic antibiotics in nine basic categories. The program runs through March 21 at all Stop & Shop and Giant pharmacies. Fellow Ahold USA banners Giant Food Stores, LLC, based in Carlisle, Pa., and Martin’s Food Markets subsequently rolled out a program offering free antibiotics that runs through April 18. “Stop & Shop and Giant pharmacies are committed to improving the health and wellness in our communities during the winter season, when families are susceptible to coughs and certain cold-related and bacteria-borne illnesses,” says Andrea Astrachan, consumer advisor for Stop & Shop and Giant Food, which are both owned by Ahold USA. According to Astrachan, the stores also offer up to a 90-day supply on over 350 commonly prescribed generic drugs for only $9.99. The idea of offering commonly prescribed antibiotics at no charge has also caught on among such retailers as Wegmans, ShopRite, Safeway’s midMore ONLINE A Atlantic division and Meijer. Also in January, the chains rolled out an on-shelf symbol on items and shelf tags, aimed at helping shoppers find the most nutritious foods. The “Healthy Ideas” program will designate over 3,000 of the stores’ products and fresh produce with a bright green-and-blue symbol that means they meet or exceed the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA Food Pyramid (Mypyramid.gov) and the FDA definition of what makes a food healthy. NEW FORMATS The designated products represent about 10 percent of the stores’ total inventory and include items that run the gamut from dairy products to pancake mix to frozen Brussels sprouts. The symbol will also appear on qualify- ing store-brand products. “It is now easier than ever to find foods that have less fat, saturated fat and sodium,” noted a Stop & Shop/Giant Food spokeswoman. “It also ensures that the foods selected are a good source of at least one nutrient (fiber, whole grains, calcium and minerals).” Explaining their launch of the new symbol, the chains cited a 2006 survey conducted by the Food Marketing Institute and Prevention magazine, which found that 73 percent of shoppers expressed interest in receiving nutrition guidance from their supermarket through “signs indicatContinued on page 16 Winn-Dixie Pilots Revamped Value Concept WINN-DIXIE STORES, INC. in January debuted a prototype store in its existing SaveRite location in the grocer’s hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. The completely redesigned store offers everyday low pricing on thousands of items, in addition to monthly locked-in specials and special price-drop items in a warehouse format. “In designing this concept, we spent a great deal of time reviewing our customers’ shopping preferences,” notes Dan Portnoy, Winn-Dixie’s chief merchandising and marketing officer. “We wanted to make sure that the new store would be a true fit for the neighborhoods it serves. We focused only on those items and services that were most important to our customers, and, as a result, we were able to aggressively cut costs and lower prices throughout the store.” As well as improved produce and meat departments, the 48,000-square-foot store now also has an in-store pharmacy where customers can buy 30-day supplies of more than 400 generic drugs for just $3.98 every day. Among the additional features of the prototype store are newly designed warehouse-style shopping carts and popular staple items available for purchase by the case. SaveRite closed the store the afternoon before its reopening on Jan. 7, to allow associates to work through that afternoon and evening to lower thousands of prices. Winn-Dixie operates 521 retail grocery locations, including over 400 in-store pharmacies, in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. The company operates 11 stores under the SaveRite banner in Florida and Mississippi. For the latest industry news, go to Progressivegrocer.com 10 • Progressive Grocer • March 2009 A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T www.progressivegrocer.com http://www.Progressivegrocer.com http://www.Mypyramid.gov http://www.Progressivegrocer.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - March 2009

Progressive Grocer - March 2009
Contents
Front End: Ahold Banners Launch 'Major Consumer Wellness Initiative'
Nielsen's Shelf Stoppers/Spotlight: Frozen Foods/One-Food Oriental Entrees
Market Snapshot: Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Independents Report: The New Agenda at FMI - And in Washington
Lempert Report: What Shoppers Will Demand in 2009
Wake-Up Call: Back to the Future
Progressive Views: Looking Forward
Frozen & Refrigerated Trends: Staying Cool
Store of the Month: Straub's Newest Family Member
FutureView Introduction: Great Expectations
Futureview: Magnetic Core
Honey: Sweet Sensation
Organic/Natural Cereal: The New Face of Breakfast Sales
FutureView: Home-Cooked Homecoming
2009 Meat Operations Review: Solid Ground
2009 Seafood Operations Review: Rough Seas
Pharmacy: A Destination for Health
Technology FutureView: Retail 3.0
Equipment FutureView: Sustainable Differentiation
What's Next: Editors' Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - March 2009