Dietitians working in supermarkets are the next generation of community healthcare solutions. Find out more about Supermarket Dietitians and their work across the U.S.

1. Dietitians Partnering with the Supermarket toDietitians Partnering with the Supermarket to
Promote HealthPromote Health
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDNBarbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN
Corporate Retail DietitianCorporate Retail DietitianCorporate Retail DietitianCorporate Retail Dietitian
BashasBashas’ Family of Stores’ Family of Stores
Arizona’s Hometown GrocerArizona’s Hometown Grocer
Tweet with Me! @EatSmartAZ

2. Why Grocery Stores Matter: A Public Health
Perspective
“Grocery stores are uniquely positioned – in the
sweet spot between manufacturers and
consumers – to market nutritious products to
increase the appeal and affordability, andincrease the appeal and affordability, and
perhaps de-emphasize those products that are
not nutritious.”
–James Marks, MD, MPH, Sr. VP and Health Group Director,
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZBarbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com

3. We Need a New ParadigmWe Need a New Paradigm
Common Mistakes in Marketing NutritionCommon Mistakes in Marketing Nutrition
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com
Things I learned as a supermarket dietitian …
• Marketing products as “healthy”
doesn’t work and can have a
negative influence on purchase
decisions…(Wansink)
READ Excerpt: http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/pdf/book/mnintroduction.pdf
decisions…(Wansink)
• In general, customers perceive
“healthy” as tasteless and expensive.
*Discover strategies to sell “stealth”
health

4. Introduction and overview of supermarket
dietitians
How supermarkets are utilizing dietitians to
impact customer health & public health
Learning Objectives
impact customer health & public health
Help dietitians in the community find
resources at their local supermarket
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ

5. Corporate Dietitian
Store-Based Dietitian
Examples of Roles & Responsibilities
Customer Service
Public Relations
Marketing & Advertising
Supermarket Dietitians: A Trusted Health Voice
Marketing & Advertising
Social Media
Culinary Focus
Food Safety
Community Health Partnerships & Networking
Work with Food Industry Partners
Supermarkets Reach Millions of People Daily…It is a GREAT
opportunity to educate!
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 barbruhs@yahoo.com

6. Successful Retail Health Program ComponentsSuccessful Retail Health Program Components
•• Build Trust with Your Audience: #1 Priority is to be aBuild Trust with Your Audience: #1 Priority is to be a customercustomer
health advocatehealth advocate
•• Drive Sales! Offer customers affordable solutions to eatDrive Sales! Offer customers affordable solutions to eat healthy thathealthy that
is inis in--line with your business strategyline with your business strategy
•• *Build Relationships with Food Industry Partners to find real*Build Relationships with Food Industry Partners to find real•• *Build Relationships with Food Industry Partners to find real*Build Relationships with Food Industry Partners to find real
solutions to solve our nation’s healthcare crisissolutions to solve our nation’s healthcare crisis
•• A Holistic ApproachA Holistic Approach -- CorporateCorporate Initiatives work the best (educateInitiatives work the best (educate
and inspire healthy behaviors within your organization)and inspire healthy behaviors within your organization)
•• Networked with local health professionals (hospitals, clinics, healthNetworked with local health professionals (hospitals, clinics, health
organizations)organizations)
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 barbruhs@yahoo.com

7. Supermarket Dietitians ImpactSupermarket Dietitians Impact
Sales & Public HealthSales & Public Health
1.1. Weekly AD Circular PromotionWeekly AD Circular Promotion
2.2. Monthly InMonthly In--Store Savings GuideStore Savings Guide
3.3. Nutrition Newsletter (biNutrition Newsletter (bi--monthly)monthly)
4.4. Designated EndDesignated End--Cap DisplayCap Display
5.5. Other InOther In--Store Merchandising/DisplayStore Merchandising/Display
6.6. InIn--Store DemoStore Demo--Sampling (AZDHS)Sampling (AZDHS)6.6. InIn--Store DemoStore Demo--Sampling (AZDHS)Sampling (AZDHS)
7.7. InIn--Store Radio MarketingStore Radio Marketing
8.8. Nutrition Shelf Tag (POS)Nutrition Shelf Tag (POS)
9.9. Pharmacy PromotionsPharmacy Promotions
10.10. Social Networking (Twitter/Social Networking (Twitter/FacebookFacebook))
11.11. Media AppearancesMedia Appearances
12.12. Community EventsCommunity Events
13.13. Dietitian Symposium EventsDietitian Symposium Events
Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZBarbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com

8. Monthly Savings GuideBrochures
Weekly AD Section
Eat Smart Nutrition Newsletter
Gluten Free Sampling EventMonthly Eat Smart In-Store Display

9. Desirable Skills: Supermarket Dietitian
•Advanced Practice Dietitian (5 + years)
• Knowledge and Experience in Public Health
• Strong Clinical Nutrition & Counseling Skills
• Media & Public Relations
•Business Skills, Food Industry Experience, Strong Ethics!
• Entrepreneurial & Trouble-shooter
• Marketing & Advertising
• Culinary Expertise
• Diplomatic and Strategic-Thinking
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ

10. Learn about how supermarketsLearn about how supermarkets
are utilizing dietitians to impactare utilizing dietitians to impact
customer health & publiccustomer health & public
OBJECTIVE 2
customer health & publiccustomer health & public
healthhealth

11. Supermarket Dietitian Educational Events
planned in partnership with Oldways
Retailer Participants:
• Bashas’ Family of Stores
• Giant Eagle
• Price Chopper
• Wegman’s
• Top’s Friendly Markets
• Marsh’s (Nash Finch)
• Kowalski’s
• Byerly’s
• Weis Markets
• Whole Foods
• Hy-Vee
• Meijer
• H-E-Butt
• United Texas
• Safeway
• Kroger• Kroger
• King Soopers
• Shaw’s
• Albertson’s
• Balls Foods (Hen House)
• Fresh Direct
•Food for Less
•K-VA-T
• Save Mart
• Festival Foods
• Lowes Foods
• Ingle’s Markets
• Harmon’s
•Stop & Shop (Ahold USA)
• Big Y
• Hannaford Bros.
• Ralph’s
• ShopRite
• Sobeys (Canada)
Learn more: www.Oldwayspt.org
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com

12. Biggest Loser Contestants Take a Nutrition Tour at Bashas’ Stores in Arizona
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2010 bruhs@bashas.com
Empower shoppers to learn about nutrition by involving them in fun & engaging
learning activities. Have participants run through a series of label-reading
activities in which they have fun, interact with the entire group and learn by
experience. (Ask Barb about in-store activities that merge behavior change, psychology and nutrition)
Barb hosts in-store nutrition activities to engage the audience in key departments
where nutrition choices can be challenging – deli case; cereal aisle; dairy/spreads;
seafood/meat counter…
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ

13. • Health & Wellness Corporate Initiative
Dietitian in Every Store – Across 5 States
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com
• Health & Wellness Corporate Initiative
• Individual Counseling & Group Classes
• Garden Projects
• Meal Planning & Shopping Lists
• Dietitian Pick of the Month – Shelf Tags
• Dietitians featured on Retailer’s Trucks!

14. • Community & Employee Health
Campaign
• Media Spokespeople
• Strong Culinary, Meal & Food Focused
• Foods You Feel Good About
• Veteran Dietitians on Staff 20_ years!
6
Corporate
Dietitians
Based in
NY
Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ

15. Supermarket Nutrition
Super Stars
Giant Eagle Hannaford
Bros.
Meijer
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2012 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com
Lowes Foods
Be A Smart
Shopper
Dietetic Inters
North Carolina
Healthcare
Partnerships
Ohio,
Pennsylvania
Hannaford
Bros.
Guiding Stars
Massachusetts,
Maine, New
Hampshire
Healthy Living
NuVal
Michigan,
Indiana, Ohio,
Illinois,
Kentucky

16. Help dietitians in theHelp dietitians in the
community findcommunity find
resources at their localresources at their local
OBJECTIVE 3
resources at their localresources at their local
supermarketsupermarket
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 email: barbruhs@yahoo.com Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ

17. Source: Catalina (www.catalinamarketing.com) – Sharon Glass presentation at FMI Health & Wellness Conference, 2010

18. Source: Catalina (www.catalinamarketing.com) – Sharon Glass presentation at FMI Health & Wellness Conference, 2010

19. Nutrition information at the point-of-purchase
influences shoppers to make healthier choices
According to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA),
nutrition shelf tags are an
extension of the food package
label …POP nutrition shelf
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN 2013 barbruhs@yahoo.com
label …POP nutrition shelf
labeling programs MUST be in
compliance with FDA.
Download nutrition criteria
used for each nutrition tag*
www.bashas.com/eatsmart
Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ

20. Supermarket Tours 101Supermarket Tours 101
*Work with organizations that will bring a group to your store –
YMCA, Mom’s clubs, CrossFit, Diabetes Camp, etc.
More Resources Available on my “Reading List”
-California Department of Public Health (CDPH) - Champions for
2020
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDNBarbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN bruhs@bashas.combruhs@bashas.com
-California Department of Public Health (CDPH) - Champions for
Change: Network for Healthy California. A Retail Program
Fruit and Vegetable Store Tour Guide
http://bit.ly/UogjES
-Joslin's Supermarket Smarts™: Making Heart-Healthy Choices
Aisle by Aisle
http://tinyurl.com/chww837
Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ

21. How Supermarket RDs Can Help YouHow Supermarket RDs Can Help You
and Your Clientsand Your Clients
Teach Culinary
Skills
Food Demos
Read Food
Labels
Make Shopping
Fun for
Everyone
Connect/Creat
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDNBarbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN bruhs@bashas.combruhs@bashas.com
Food Demos
Increase
Exposure to
New Foods
Provide Recipes
& Plan Healthy
Menus
Shopping List to
Manage Health
Concerns
Manage Food
Allergies
Connect/Creat
Wellness
Programs
Make Healthy
Eating More
Affordable
Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ

22. Questions?Questions?
Barbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDNBarbara Ruhs, MS, RD, LDN
email:email: bruhs@bashas.combruhs@bashas.com
Phone: (480) 216Phone: (480) 216--68486848
Follow me! @Follow me! @EatSmartAZEatSmartAZ
Like me!Like me! BashasBashas’ Dietitian’ Dietitian
Connect on LinkedInConnect on LinkedIn
BashasBashas’ Family of Stores’ Family of Stores
www.Bashas.com/EatSmartwww.Bashas.com/EatSmart
Tweet with me! @EatSmartAZ Thanks to @DaisyHealthRD