Supervalu blends food, health, pharmacy
Supervalu operates under the maxim that the pharmacy division exists as the “solution center for the sick and destination for the healthy.” In other words, Supervalu pharmacy endeavors to be that retail rarity: all things to all people. If it has something to do with health and wellness, treatments or prevention, Supervalu has an answer.
Supervalu’s health-and-wellness proposition is supported by four pharmacy service pillars — immunizations, medication therapy management, health screenings and adherence programs — and is bridged between pharmacy and food by way of dedicated how-to-shop-for-health tours.
“We really feel there is a tie-in with the food store that offers us a competitive advantage,” said Chris Dimos, president of Supervalu pharmacy, noting that food pharmacies have become adept at connecting the dots between wellness and nutrition. Supervalu currently conducts healthy eating tours, encompassing a number of such targeted conditions as diabetes and heart health.
Earlier this year, Supervalu expanded its in-store nutrition navigation program “Nutrition iQ” to include the fresh food departments and more robust nutrition information for the center store where Supervalu already has evaluated more than 80,000 products. The Nutrition iQ program, launched in 2009 in collaboration with dietitians from Joslin Clinic, currently is available across more than 800 Supervalu banners. The Minnesota grocer launched the new program through its Albertsons stores in Southern California and Nevada at the beginning of the year.
The fresh departments now feature informational signs highlighting key attributes of the foods receiving Nutrition iQ signs, such as “excellent source of fiber,” “helps support healthy digestion” and “excellent source of vitamin C.”
Supervalu also has made significant progress in developing comprehensive clinical programs and services, Dimos said, such as fielding more than 2,100 (and growing) immunizing pharmacists and developing comprehensive and reimbursable MTM programs.