RDBA Announces 2023 Retail Dietitian of the Year
Significant industry contributions, business skills and leadership recognized
APRIL 26, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS, MN –The Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) is thrilled to announce the 2023 Retail Dietitian of the Year award was presented to Elisa Sloss, Hy-Vee senior vice president of private brands. Elisa was recognized by hundreds of her peers during the annual RDBA Virtual Experience. Emily Callahan, President of ARC, noted, “Elisa is a stellar example of the incredible work being done by RDs in the retail industry. Her accomplishments are truly impressive. Congratulations, Elisa!"
Annually, the RDBA presents this distinguished industry award to an RD who has shown leadership in utilizing business skills and industry knowledge to positively impact consumer behavior change throughout the retail sector. The wide variety of submissions received are a testament to the incredible work being done by RDs to influence consumer behavior and sell health and wellness throughout the retail industry.
Recently, Elisa was promoted to senior vice president at Hy-Vee where she oversees private brands, as well as the sales, merchandising, and educational efforts of the company’s more than 190 HealthMarket departments, a “store-within-a-store” concept that features a strong and varied selection of organic products and specialty foods to help support customers’ dietary needs and health conditions. Elisa also leads Hy-Vee’s team of dietitians who support thousands of customers each year through store tours, personalized dietitian visits, and meal-prep classes and workshops to help customers find food and products to support their health goals. During COVID-19, Elisa oversaw the launch of Hy-Vee’s virtual dietitian services, allowing individuals to connect with Hy-Vee dietitians in both English and Spanish from the comfort of their homes.
In the private brand space, Elisa spearheaded the development of Good Graces, a private-label line that offers gluten-free and plant-based products to support specialty diets. Elisa also helped launch Hy-Vee’s e-commerce site WholeLotta.com, which offers dietitian-approved food, vitamins, supplements, fitness equipment and more. Many of Hy-Vee’s private brand items, including Good Graces, are available for purchase on this site.
"Throughout her career at Hy-Vee, Elisa has made significant contributions to the retail dietetic field and has been instrumental in expanding Hy-Vee’s nutritional services and offerings to customers across the Midwest,” said Aaron Wiese, president of Hy-Vee. “We are so proud of Elisa’s accomplishments, as well as those made by our team of Hy-Vee registered dietitians as they work together to help make our customers’ lives healthier.”
In her free time, Elisa serves as a board member for the American Heart Association in Des Moines, Iowa. In 2021, she was recognized as a Progressive Grocer GenNext award recipient and was named a Drug Store News' Top Woman in Health, Wellness & Beauty. In 2022, she was named to Progressive Grocer's Top Women in Grocery in the senior-level executive category.
“It has been amazing to see the progress we've made in the retail dietetic field and how we as an industry have advanced our profession to reach more people with healthier options,” said Elisa. “I'm so excited for what's ahead, and I want to thank our amazing team of Hy-Vee dietitians who work hard every day to make our customer’s lives easier, healthier and happier by providing nutritional services to customers both in stores and online as a retailer.”
The RDBA Virtual Experience brought together over 300 Retail Dietitians from across the globe to engage in three days of immersive learning focused on health and wellness, consumer insights and business skills. Next year, the RDBA will welcome attendees in person at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes Hotel in Orlando, Florida from April 29th to May 1st.
About ARC
The Association of Retail and Consumer Professionals is an international master association for the Category Management Association, Shopper Insights Association, Space Planning Community, and the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance. The mission of ARC is to build professional communities that foster excellence and growth across the retail and consumer industries.
