Retail Dietitian Profiles

Molly Hembree, RDN, LD, Retail RD Coordinator, The Little Clinic of Kroger, shares her story including her biggest challenge and what she wished she had known before starting a career as a retail dietitian.

​​​​​​​I was first exposed to retail dietetics from my shadowing experience with Hy-Vee dietitian Sarah Sortino, RD, LMNT.  I loved my time spent with her and loved the impact she was having on customers every day. I also loved the variety in her days. One day we would be teaching a kids' cooking class and the next we would be out in the community doing presentations to local businesses. I knew I wanted to be a Hy-Vee dietitian from that point. 

Beth Dokolasa, MA, RD, Natural Grocers answers questions about the challenges and specific things that have helped her move forward as a Retail Dietitian.

Did you know there were dietitians working in retail as far back as 1974?  At this year’s What’s in Store event, the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance took the lead from the 100-year celebration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and featured a video of retail dietitian pioneers.

I began my Target career five years ago right after graduating college as a non-RD. I started as a coordinator on the Nutrition, Labeling & Regulatory Compliance team managing labeling related documentation, shadowing experts and taking the opportunity to learn everything I could about FDA and USDA regulations.

An interview with Jodi Weeber, RD, LD, Marketing Manager, Health & Wellness at Hy-Vee, on what has helped build her career as a retail dietitian.

"My passion to empower people with the tools and knowledge to lead healthy lives has driven me to consistently pursue opportunities in the field of prevention."

Esther Ellis, MS, RD, LDN, Rouses Markets, shares her story in becoming a retail dietitian.

Cassandra Umile, RD, LDN, The Kenny Family ShopRites of Delaware, tells us how by working with her community, she have her store's program her own style.

Erica Flint on what initiatives she is most proud of and her biggest challenges in the retail environment.