Articles

I remember sharing a cab ride to an event with two retail RD program leaders. During the ride, they were discussing strategies to manage the 500+ emails they get each day. This story reflects the stress that many retail RDs manage in their roles. Random work hours, demands of multiple store categories, support of marketing, communications, and operations and a host of other departments can all contribute to a stressful work life. 

Mealtimes were once the building blocks of the daily schedule but work, school and social accountabilities have caused meal patterns to shift. Today’s modern eating plan is more flexible and personalized and approximately 50% of eating occasions are considered as snacks. As the lines between meals and snacks blur, there are several opportunities for retailers to meet the consumer’s need for food on-the-go while providing guidance toward nutritious, wholesome options.

Beth Stark, RDN, LDN, Manager of Lifestyle Initiatives at Weis Markets, will do a deep-dive into consumer behavior at lunchtime, explore strategies to help shoppers improve eating habits, and offer tips and resources for retail dietitians to help consumers recommit to lunch through activations at retail. 

The Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) is excited to announce a partnership with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Foundation for our 2019 Samplefest®, which will focus on National Family Meals Month™.

Over the years, weight loss programs, products and pills have promised quick and lasting results, however, few have had the research or results to support their claims. And while many individuals have been successful with weight loss, the percent of those individuals who keep the weight off over time is extremely low. What can retailers do to change this trend and help communities be healthier? Dr. James Hill, University of Alabama Birmingham, contends that the total issue of metabolic regulation is complex, much like the problem of global warming, and we need to use techniques that address this complexity. Based on his research, Dr. Hill shares the following insights:

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Thanks to books like Wheat Belly and a plethora of low carbohydrate diet plans that promote the reduction of grains for better health, many grain-based foods have been shunned by consumers. This is frustrating for health professionals who understand that grain foods can provide many nutritional benefits and are enjoyed as components of healthy meals. Supermarkets sell a wide variety of whole, refined and enriched grain products and retail dietitians are often called upon to clarify grain food concerns. By understanding what the research is saying about all grain foods, RDs can successfully communicate meaningful shopper solutions.

I am an In-Store Dietitian! We do a whole mix of things to support our stores, customers, and community with nutrition support.

In today’s omnichannel environment, understanding the consumer’s path-to-purchase is more important than ever if retailers are going to serve the needs of their customers.