WOONSOCKET, R.I., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Pharmacy®
announced today the expansion of its assortment of healthier foods
and beverages to more than 2,900 stores nationwide. Throughout the
year, 100 stores each week are being enhanced with a carefully
curated selection of national and niche better-for-you brands that
make healthier eating on-the-go, convenient and affordable.
Expanding this initiative beyond the initial 500 store pilot
launched in 2015 is a critical step as the company continues to
evolve into a premier health destination by making better health
easy for millions of customers.
"Since becoming the first and only national pharmacy chain to
end the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products, the number
one thing we've heard from our customers is the desire for
healthier food options," said Judy
Sansone, Senior Vice President of Front Store Business.
"This year, we are continuing to expand the assortment, volume and
shelf space dedicated to better-for-you foods and snacks offered in
our stores nationwide to make healthier snacking easier and more
convenient for our customers."
Adding more healthy foods
This spring, more than 250
fresh, refrigerated and non-perishable healthy foods and beverages
have hit shelves at CVS Pharmacy stores around the country from
brands including: Amy's Kitchen, Annie's Homegrown, Chobani,
Vita CoCo, Bai, Krave Jerky, Rhythm
Superfoods, That's it bars as well as new products from the CVS
Pharmacy exclusive line, Gold Emblem abound™ which is free from
artificial preservatives, flavors and colors.
Moving healthy foods forward
In addition to the 2,900
stores which will stock a wide assortment of healthy foods by year
end, another 360 stores will receive significant additional
enhancements to the layout of food, beauty and over the counter
health products. The new store layouts have a broader assortment of
better-for-you foods in an expanded refrigerated section and more
prominent displays of healthy foods and grab-and-go snacks, making
healthy snacking more convenient.
Better-for-you snacks at checkouts
Beginning this
summer, roughly 25 percent of front checkout space, traditionally
occupied by candy, will be dedicated to better-for-you snacks
including: KIND bars, Larabars and Vega One bars to help shoppers
choose a healthier bite to tide them over while running
errands.
Healthy eating trend zones
Niche products that
support trending dietary preferences including paleo, raw and vegan
are also taking the spotlight in select CVS Pharmacy locations
throughout the year. Initial trends include paleo displays
including EPIC 100% grass-fed bison bars and Gold Emblem abound
organic black chia seeds. Next, raw foods will be showcased
throughout the summer, including top picks from Go Raw bars, Emmy's Organics and Two Moms in the
Raw. In the fall, a vegan showcase, featuring Larabar Bites, Kashi
Teff Thin Crackers, and GimMe Health Food Seaweed Snacks, among
others will be available in select locations.
Healthy deals of the week and personalized email offers serve as
gentle reminders that making healthier choices can be affordable as
well. The company's Fit Choices shelf tagging program also
increases the ease of finding healthier items in store by clearly
identifying foods that fit nutritional and dietary preferences
including: Good Source of Protein, Heart Healthy, Gluten Free,
Sugar Free, Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified.
A variety of the products mentioned here will be available in
select stores nationwide and some online at CVS.com. To find a
nearby CVS Pharmacy location, please visit CVS.com/stores.
About CVS Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy, the retail division
of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), is America's leading retail pharmacy
with over 9,600 locations. It is the first national pharmacy to end
the sale of tobacco and the first pharmacy in the nation to receive
the Community Pharmacy accreditation from URAC, the leading health
care accreditation organization that establishes quality standards
for the health care industry. CVS Pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy
to help people on their path to better health by providing the most
accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and
online at CVS.com. General information about CVS Pharmacy and CVS
Health is available at www.cvshealth.com.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Cunha
Public Relations Manager
CVS Pharmacy
Stephanie.Cunha@CVSHealth.com
p 401-770-9354
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SOURCE CVS Pharmacy