Dive Brief:

• Hannaford Supermarkets announced Monday the launch of its new Snack Pals Plates program, which aims to foster healthy eating habits in children. 
• Until Oct. 31, customers will be able to buy the plates, which have illustrations of characters and nutritional information about building a well-balanced meal on them.
• Grocers continue to prioritize consumer health and introduce company incentives centered around health and wellness.

Dive Insight:

Hannaford’s colorful Snack Pal Plates display four quadrants showing balanced portions of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The plates also include helpful tips like “filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables,” according to the announcement.  

The plates serve as a way for kids to learn from “charming characters that help [them] visualize a well-balanced meal,” said Allison Stowell, a registered dietitian for the grocer, in a statement. 

The plates appear in special displays in the produce section of all Hannaford stores and cost $5 for a pack of two, the press release noted. 

The rollout of the plates is an extension of the grocer’s Snack Pals program, which includes a website with interactive games, food-themed crafts, nutritious recipes, tips and resources for healthy eating taught through a group of “fun food characters.” 

The Snack Pals Plate initiative will help fund an estimated 100,000 meals for families experiencing food insecurity in the New England and New York area. Each Snack Pals Plate purchase will lead to a donation for a local hunger relief organization in the corresponding store’s community, according to the grocer. 

Health and wellness continue to be a focal point for grocers as they expand resources to help customers reach their nutrition goals. Kroger’s food as medicine program, for example, has rolled out nutrition scoring, food prescriptions and dietitian-focused health solutions aimed at disease prevention. 

Regional grocers have also launched nutrition-focused initiatives. Southern California supermarket chain Northgate Gonzalez Market connects shoppers with a range of nonprofit healthcare providers and county programs at no cost and holds events like cholesterol and diabetes screening as well as mammograms.