Articles

Registered dietitians (RD) bring expertise in nutrition, behavior change, and consumer education to the retail space. They’re a trusted and authoritative voice in traditional and social media as well as with consumers, colleagues and grocery employees. Food manufacturers look to RDs as an important partner.

There has never been a better time to be a registered dietitian (RD), both in terms of positive impact on public health and professional opportunities. But... it's up to the RD to make the biggest impact possible. Here are some tips to help retail RDs lead the way, developing relationships that will build store loyalty while moving the needle on public health.

Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant increase in registered dietitians working for retailers. Judy Dodd, MS, RD, LDN, FADA, has been the Healthy Living Advisory for Giant Eagle for 20 years and is a member of the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) Advisory Board. We asked Judy a few questions to help shed some light on the retail registered dietitian (RD) landscape—where it’s been and where it is today.

Last year we predicted how weather conditions around the globe would affect crop yields and impact food production and prices; little did we know just how big that impact would be. 2012 brought us the worst drought in 50 years, and created havoc on over 60% of all farmland here in the United States. There is little doubt that, just as the USDA has predicted, food prices will continue to rise for many years to come. The average American spends less than nine percent of their income on food, which is the lowest percentage of citizens of any other country, and less than Americans spent back in 1982 (13 percent). Yet even modest food price increases will affect many.

Retail Dietitians are on the front lines. Shoppers ask questions that go way beyond nutrition issues - and too often merchandising, buying, marketing and the Retail Dietitians don't have the time to confer or coordinate the answer.

Get inspired to flex your innovation muscles! The Partnership for a Healthier America’s End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge has announced the 10 semifinalists. Let’s take a look at some interesting ideas to help solve childhood obesity.

Changes are afoot! Supermarket News is releasing its annual Top 75 Retailers and Wholesalers list today, and this year's ranking reflects several shifts with more on the horizon.