California Supermarket Chain to Pull All Conventional Candy From Checkout Counters
West coast supermarket chain Raley’s says it will overhaul its checkout area selections in all 129 locations throughout California and Nevada. The Sacramento-based chain will remove all conventional candy brand options and move to stock healthier options more in line with today’s wellness-focused shoppers.
The new impulse-buy items are in line with the Raley’s Shelf Guide standards that highlight nutrient-dense foods free from genetically modified ingredients. It will also highlight products free from dairy and gluten.
While Raley’s says it will still offer sweet treats, the overhauled checkout stands will feature them in smaller sizes and from natural brands including Chocolove, Bark Thins and Justin’s. It will also feature less conventional checkout items like toasted seaweed snacks, rice bars, and single-serve packets of olives and nuts.
“We want to make it easier for our customers to make better choices for their personal health journey,” Raley’s President Keith Knopf said in a statement.
“We are already seeing customers respond favorably to our improved offering, which supports their ability to act on their own intentions and choose to eat well, whether they’re filling their carts or grabbing a quick bite,” Knopf added.
The chain notes that part of the motivation was to help its customers reduce their sugar intake. An overwhelming majority of Americans consume more than 13 percent of their daily calories from added sugars. The FDA suggests limiting added sugars to no more than ten percent of daily caloric intake for optimal health.
Raley’s joins a growing number of conventional supermarkets reimagining store aisles and checkout counters. In the Southeast, supermarket chain Publix has turned its Greenwise private label line of healthy and organic foods into freestanding stores, recently announcing expansion plans for the chain.
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