Inside 4 Chains Embracing Healthier Food Choices
Sep. 14, 2016FREMONT, Calif. -- More than a half-dozen convenience-store chains have committed themselves to providing healthier food options to their customers in the past two years.
As part of an extended report in the September issue of CSP magazine, we took a look at four of these chains to report on how those efforts are playing out inside the stores ...
Vintners Distributors' Loop
Convenience-store retailer Vintners Distributors Inc., Fremont, Calif., announced its commitment to Partnership for Healthier America (PHA) in February 2015. Vintners owns and operates more than 120 convenience stores and Loop Neighborhood c-stores in California.
Salad is a quintessential healthy-food item. Loop customers can choose from a bevy of fresh ingredients to create their own. Prepackaged healthy foods are situated next to the salad bar for customers in a hurry.
Loop
Healthier beverages such as juice and organic milk line this merchandiser in a Loop c-store. PHA’s Drink Up campaign encourages consumption of water.
Loop
Loop also offers frozen yogurt, a healthier alternative to ice cream.
Kwik Trip
Kwik Trip, La Crosse, Wis., has taken on a number of advancements to make healthier choices more convenient and accessible ever since it signed a commitment with PHA in 2014. As part of its new commitment to PHA, Kwik Trip will offer by June 2017 an expanded stock of healthier options, including packaged foods such as nuts and granola bars, and healthier options in the checkout area.
U-Gas
Fenton, Mo.-based U-Gas announced it was partnering with PHA in 2015. In the next few years, U-Gas will work with PHA to expand healthier food offerings, with more fresh fruits and vegetables (see above), whole grains, low-fat dairy, healthier packaged foods and healthier made-to-order or grab-and-go options. The chain will also focus on in-store promotion of healthier products. (Editor’s note: As CSP went to press, U-Gas was acquired by Wallis Cos.)
Sheetz
In 2014, Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz Inc. made a two-year commitment to deliver more nutritious options across its c-store portfolio by joining PHA. “Sheetz strives to meet the needs of our customers, and providing healthy choices has been an ongoing commitment for us,” CEO Joe Sheetz said at the time. “We have seen the need in the communities we serve for healthy options, and we are proud to continue to be a part of the solution.”