Category Archives: Consumer Information

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CVS Health recognized with 2018 PBMI Excellence Award for Care Management Strategies

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2018-Mar-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today (March 7, 2018) that the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute (PBMI) awarded the company the 2018 PBMI Excellence Award for Care Management Strategies. The award recognizes the ScriptPath Prescription Schedule, which was developed by CVS Health to help provide a consolidated view of a patient’s current CVS Pharmacy prescriptions with an easy-to-understand schedule showing how and when to take each medication.

“We are pleased to be recognized with this award for our industry-leading work to bring the ScriptPath Prescription Schedule to patients as we help them on their path to better health,” said Troyen A. Brennan, MD Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health. “For CVS Health, this award validates our efforts to develop innovative programs that improve patient engagement and medication adherence, better manage chronic diseases like diabetes and help clients keep their health care costs down.”

The average American adult fills nine prescriptions annually, with people older than 65 filling an average of 20 prescriptions a year. Unfortunately, approximately half of patients report being confused about how and when to take their medications, contributing to the 50 percent of patients with chronic conditions who stop taking their medications within the first year of diagnosis. Further, studies show a 5.7 percent to 6.8 percent decrease in adherence for each dose added to a medication regimen. For patients who are not optimally adherent to prescribed therapies, hospital readmission rates increase by as much as 69 percent, which can result in annual U.S. health care costs between $100 to $300 billion.

The ScriptPath Prescription Schedule offers patients with chronic conditions and complex regimens a personalized prescription schedule with easy-to-understand icons explaining which medication to take, when it should be taken and how much should be taken in each dose. It is designed to improve patient understanding and safety and help simplify how patients take their medications. The schedule is generated by our proprietary Clinical Engine, a robust scientific system created by CVS Pharmacy, which automatically reviews all of a patient’s current CVS Pharmacy prescription information and prescribers’ instructions. Using clinical data, the Clinical Engine slots a patient’s medications into up to four dosing times per day morning, midday, evening and bedtime and recommends dosing times for each medication based on the most effective times of day for the medications to be taken. Deborah Adler, a designer known for her past work on Target’s ClearRx prescription packaging system and the inventor and lead designer of the new ScriptPath system, worked with the CVS Health team to develop the easy-to-understand icons and an intuitive layout for each of the ScriptPath offerings.

In addition to the Prescription Schedule, CVS Pharmacy is in the process of rolling out the ScriptPath Prescription Label and Prescription Overview to all stores nationwide this spring. This will extend the use of the easy-to-understand design of the Prescription Schedule to the label on the prescription bottle as well as the prescription bag tag.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,800 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 94 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact: 
Christina Beckerman
CVS Health
401-770-8868

SOURCE: CVS Health

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CVS Health installs 14 new medication disposal units inside CVS Pharmacy locations in Rhode Island

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2018-Mar-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today (March 6, 2018) that the company has expanded its safe medication disposal program inside select CVS Pharmacy locations in Rhode Island to help facilitate proper and timely disposal of opioids and other medications that could be diverted or misused if left in people’s homes. Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, U.S. Attorney Stephen Dambruch, and Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves joined representatives from CVS Health at a Pawtucket CVS Pharmacy store to launch the program today.

“With a presence in nearly 10,000 communities across the country, we witness the impact of the alarming and rapidly growing epidemic of opioid addiction and misuse,” said Tom Davis, Vice President of Professional Services for CVS Pharmacy. “Expanding our safe medication disposal efforts in Rhode Island is an extension of the initiatives in place across our company to fight the opioid abuse epidemic and fulfil our purpose of helping people on their path to better health.”

The 14 new medication disposal units that will be installed inside CVS Pharmacy locations in Rhode Island will supplement an additional 14 units CVS Health has donated to police departments across the state. Nationwide, CVS Health has donated more than 850 units to local law enforcement, collecting more than 140 metric tons, or more than 300,000 pounds of unwanted medication.

Attorney General Kilmartin said, “I applaud CVS Health for recognizing that to effectively tackle and defeat the opioid epidemic in this country, all stakeholders need to work together in a coordinated effort. Expanding the company’s prescription drug disposal kiosks to stores across Rhode Island will make it easier for customers to safely dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription opioids and other prescription drugs before they can be abused or diverted for illicit purposes.”

The expansion of the safe medication disposal program to 750 CVS Pharmacy locations across the U.S. was included among the enhancements to the company’s strategy to address and prevent opioid abuse announced in September 2017. As part of that effort, the company also said it would align opioid utilization management with CDC Guideline for CVS Caremark clients and members, complementing measures already in place.

This work builds on ongoing company initiatives, including the Pharmacists Teach program, which brings CVS Pharmacists to local schools to talk to teens and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. More than 300,000 teens nationally including more than 3,600 in Rhode Island have already participated in the program. CVS Health has also worked to expand access to the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone in 46 states, including Rhode Island.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,800 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with more than 94 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contacts:

Erin Shields Britt
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-9237
Erin.Britt@CVSHealth.com

Amy Lanctot
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-2931
Amy.Lanctot@CVSHealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

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SPAR Croatia reduces amount of salt in its bread by 1.4%

SPAR Croatia reduces amount of salt in its bread by 1.4%

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2018-Feb-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — SPAR Croatia has reduced the amount of salt in its bread baked daily at the INTERSPAR bakery by 1.4%, in line with the World Health Organisation’s dietary recommendations.

Customers can now find bread baked with a lower volume of salt on the shelves of all INTERSPAR and SPAR stores in the country. The amount of salt in all 30 bread varieties has been reduced by 2% to the recommended 1,4% and in some cases even lower than the recommended amount. All the other ingredients remain the same – no additives were used to replace the salt and the bread is of the same high quality and taste.

“Through revising the recipe, SPAR Croatia is enabling positive change in our customers’ eating habits,” said Helmut Fenzl, CEO of SPAR Croatia.

This is part of a larger strategic plan to reduce the consumption of kitchen salt in Croatia from the current daily intake of 11.6 grams to 9.3 grams by 2019. This will consequently reduce the prevalence of arterial hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Read more news from SPAR Croatia

About SPAR Croatia

The first SPAR Hypermarket opened in Croatia in mid-2005, following the signing of the licence agreement between ASPIAG (a subsidiary of SPAR Austria AG) and SPAR International in 2004. As a member of the ASPIAG group, SPAR Croatia has access to a wide range of own brand products. Brand development has primarily taken place through SPAR Supermarkets and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets, both through the take-over of existing chains and the opening of new stores.

SOURCE: SPAR International

SPAR International
info@spar-international.com
+3120 626 6749

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Visa introduces a solution designed to unify management and secure customer payment data

Token Management Service: Smarter Tokens for a Connected Digital World (Photo: Business Wire)

Provides a 360-Degree View of Customer Payments Across Channels and Payment Types

SAN FRANCISCO, 2018-Feb-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Visa (NYSE: V) today introduced Token Management Service, a solution designed to unify management and secure customer payment data. Token Management Service enables an integrated view of payment preferences and behaviors across a merchant’s commerce platforms, processing environments, geographies, payment types and card brands.

Seventy percent of the world, or more than 5 billion people, will be connected via mobile device by 20201, creating the need for merchants to provide consumers with seamless digital payments that work securely, anywhere and on any device. Laying a foundation for this transition, Visa has developed Token Management Service, part of Visa’s CyberSource payment management platform.

Different token services deployed across multiple digital commerce environments create channel silos, preventing merchants from fully understanding payment behavior across their various customer touchpoints. Token Management Service helps enable merchants to unify payment token implementation in order to provide simple, innovative and seamless purchasing experiences. For example:

  • Customers can buy goods online, then pick them up in store, or make a purchase online and return items in-store.
  • Merchants can augment their customer engagement strategy with tailored loyalty programs and promotions to suit customer preferences and behavior, ultimately providing impactful customer experiences

“Our clients are seeking to create new integrated commerce experiences that unify their digital and physical operations to gain a comprehensive 360-degree view of their customer interactions,” said Andre Machicao, senior vice president, digital merchant products, Visa. “Today’s launch of Token Management Service brings merchants a vital capability to better service their customers by enabling them to embrace and create new, frictionless and secure payment experiences and maintain their competitive edge.”

Merchants can deploy Token Management Service with limited changes to their current IT infrastructure. When using the service, payment information is stored in secure Visa data centers. Merchants can benefit directly by reducing costs associated with compliance and minimizing security threats associated with keeping sensitive data on their own networks.

“Merchants operate in an omnichannel world where customers have the power of choice in shopping, namely – how, where, and when to buy. Consumers also value convenience and immediacy in their interaction with merchants and expect a streamlined payment experience regardless of their buying method or platform,” said Raymond Pucci, associate director, Mercator Advisory Group. “Providing a unified token management service as part of a layered approach to payment risk mitigation ensures a fast and secure checkout experience that strengthens the customer relationship.”

The latest addition to Visa’s innovative digital solutions for merchants, Token Management Service is a complementary solution to Visa Token Service, a payment network tokenization service developed by Visa in 2014. Visa Token Service has paved the way for innovative digital payments types, ranging from technologies such as Visa Checkout, to mobile wallets and payment-enabled IoT devices, including wearables, connected cars and appliances and mobile commerce in retail environments. Token Management Service will enable merchants to realize the value of payment-network tokens by simplifying integration into Visa Token Service and other payment network tokenization services.

For more information about Token Management Service, please visit: http://www.cybersource.com/tokenization

About Visa Inc.Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network – enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and a driving force behind the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/aboutvisa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews.

1 Source: Cisco Visual Networking Index Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update, 2015-2020

Source: Visa Inc.

Visa Inc.
Aida Hadzibegovic, 415-805-4242
ahadzibe@visa.com

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USDA FSIS: Night Hawk Frozen Foods recalls frozen beef patty and gravy products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens

WASHINGTON, 2018-Feb-22 — /EPR Retail News/ — Night Hawk Frozen Foods, Inc., a Buda, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 167 pounds of frozen beef patty and gravy products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today (Feb. 20, 2018). The product contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

The heat treated, but not fully cooked, frozen beef patty and gravy items were produced on Nov. 8, 2017. The following products are subject to recall:

  • 8.75 oz. board cartons labeled as “NIGHT HAWK BEEF PATTY ‘N GRAVY, CHARBROILED BEEF PATTY and GRAVY, POTATO ROUNDS and SWEET CORN.”

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 2117” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Louisiana and Texas.

The problem was discovered on Feb. 19, 2018 when FSIS was notified that the firm received two consumer complaints of mislabeled products. The cartons actually contain beef patties, mashed potatoes and cheese.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall can contact Michelle Anselment, chief operating officer, Night Hawk Frozen Foods, at (512) 295-4166 X 107.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

USDA Recall Classifications
Class I This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.

Contact:
Congressional and Public Affairs
Autumn Canaday
(202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

Source: USDA

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PetSmart announces creation of the Healthy Pet Advisory Council to advance pet nutrition, health and wellness

PHOENIX, 2018-Jan-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — To address the rapidly evolving area of pet nutrition, PetSmart, Inc. announced today (Jan. 25, 2018) it has formed the Healthy Pet Advisory Council, a community of experts that will support PetSmart’s efforts to lead the pet retail industry in pet nutrition, health and wellness. The council will focus on three key areas: research, innovation and education.

“At PetSmart, we love pets, and we want them to lead happy and healthy lives,” said Paul Hunt, PetSmart’s senior vice president of sourcing and product development. “The goal of the council is to advance the health and wellness of pets across North America through pet nutrition research and innovation. This research will help enhance PetSmart’s proprietary pet food formulations and educate pet parents in line with advances in pet nutritional science.”

“We sought out some of the most innovative thought leaders in this area, including veterinarians, researchers and nutritionists to join our effort, and we look forward to providing new options for pets and pet parents in the future,” Hunt continued.

Initial appointments to the council include:

  • Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, Ph.D., associate professor, Section Chief of Clinical Nutrition at Cornell University;
  • Kelly Swanson, Ph.D., professor of Comparative Animal Nutrition in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
  • Tony Buffington, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN (emeritus), clinical professor, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and emeritus professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University;
  • Randy Johnson, Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition;
  • And PetSmart consultants and associates who are experts in their fields of veterinary medicine, nutrition, research, regulations and food safety

The council will explore new ingredients and manufacturing technology to improve pet food formulations that provide optimal nutrition for pets. The council’s key findings will be applied to PetSmart’s proprietary pet food brands, including Authority®, Simply Nourish™, Grreat Choice® and Dentley’s®. Education efforts will focus on PetSmart retail associates and pet parents to enhance their knowledge on crucial topics such as nutrition and ingredient functionality. The council will launch an informative public website to aid in its education efforts to help pet parents better understand and navigate the best nutritional choices to meet the needs and lifestyle of their pets.

About PetSmart®
PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

Contacts: 
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com

Source: PetSmart Inc.

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CVS Health brings its safe medication disposal program to South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C., 2018-Jan-26 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today (January 23, 2018) that the company has expanded its safe medication disposal program to locations inside select CVS Pharmacy locations in South Carolina to help facilitate proper and timely disposal of opioids and other medications that could be diverted or misused if left in people’s homes. Attorney General Alan Wilson, State Representative Chip Huggins and Lexington Police Chief Terrence Green attended the launch of the program at a Lexington CVS Pharmacy location.

“With a presence in nearly 10,000 communities across the country, we see firsthand the impact of the alarming and rapidly growing epidemic of opioid addiction and misuse,” said Thomas M. Moriarty, Executive Vice President, Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer, and General Counsel, CVS Health. “Expanding our safe medication disposal efforts here in South Carolina is an extension of the initiatives in place across our company to fight the opioid abuse epidemic and fulfill our purpose of helping people on their path to better health.”

The 22 new medication disposal units that will be installed inside CVS Pharmacy locations in South Carolina will supplement the nearly 24 units CVS Health has donated to police and sheriff departments across the state. Nationwide, the company has donated more than 800 units to police departments, collecting more than 125 metric tons, or 270,000 pounds of unwanted medication.

“We know that opioids and other dangerous drugs often end up in the wrong hands after being taken out of parents’ and grandparents’ medicine cabinets,” said Attorney General Wilson. “We appreciate CVS’s efforts to help fight the opioid epidemic by giving people a safe and easy way to dispose of unwanted medications.”

“Prescription drug abuse is a major public health epidemic in our state,” said State Representative Chip Huggins, who is a member of the House Opioid Abuse Prevention Study Committee. “Programs like the one CVS Health is announcing today are integral in helping to avoid the diversion of unused prescription medicines, which can help reduce and prevent their misuse.”

The expansion of safe medication disposal to a total of 750 CVS Pharmacy locations across the U.S. was included among the enhancements to the company’s strategy to address and prevent opioid abuse announced in September 2017. As part of that effort, the company also said it would enhance opioid utilization management aligned with the CDC Guideline for CVS Caremark clients and members, complementing measures already in place. This work builds on ongoing programs the company operates including the Pharmacists Teach program, which brings CVS Pharmacists to local schools to talk to teens and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs. More than 300,000 teens nationally including more than 4,000 in South Carolina have already participated in the program. CVS Health has also worked to expand access to the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone in 46 states, including South Carolina.

“We see the impact that opioid abuse has on our community every day,” said Terrence Green, Chief of Police of the Lexington Police Department. “We commend CVS Health for this important step in helping combat the opioid epidemic by making it easier for this community and others throughout the state to dispose of their unused medicines.”

The 22 new medication disposal units are being installed over the next several weeks at the following CVS Pharmacy locations:

Anderson Greenville North Charleston
2814 North Main St. 718 Mills Ave. 5215 Ashley Phosphate Rd.
3218 West Blue Ridge Dr.
Bishopville 2401 East North St. Rock Hill
523 South Main St. 2707 Celanese Rd.
Greer
Charleston 2446 Hudson Rd. Simpsonville
65 Sycamore Ave. 698 Fairview Rd.
Inman
Cheraw 11211 Asheville Hwy. Spartanburg
901 Market St. 2397 Reidville Rd.
Irmo
Columbia 1008 Lake Murray Blvd. Summerville
2571 Forest Dr. 301 North Main St.
4711-5 Forest Dr. Lexington
5608 Sunset Blvd. Winnsboro
Florence 27 US Hwy 321 Byp. South
733 South Irby St. Myrtle Beach
3210 East Palmetto St 1303 38th Ave. North

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact:
Erin Shields Britt
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-9237
Erin.Britt@CVSHealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

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Delhaize inspires customers on eating well and healthy through its multimedia campaign

Zaandam, the Netherlands, 2018-Jan-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — With consumers in Belgium and Luxembourg increasingly interested in making healthier food choices, Delhaize launched a multimedia campaign last week that focuses on health and nutrition. The goal is to inspire customers and provide them with information, ideas and tips on topics ranging from eating more fruits and vegetables to consuming less sugar.

The campaign will run throughout 2018 in a variety of media channels, including television, radio, newspapers and online. On the brand’s website, for example, customers can find information and ask questions about healthy living, with answers provided by chef and ambassador Jeroen de Pauw.

“The better you know your customer, the better you understand their different needs and requests,” said Xavier Piesvaux, Brand President of Delhaize. “More than ever, we want to be the preferred food retailer that has a solution for every customer. We launched our new campaign to stress that eating well and healthy is a crucial element in living well.”

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ellen van Ginkel
Director External Communications
media.relations@aholddelhaize.com
+31 88 6595134

SOURCE: Ahold Delhaize

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Sustainable Fishing: Carrefour announces all its suppliers have now confirmed that they will not use electrofishing method

Sustainable Fishing: Carrefour announces all its suppliers have now confirmed that they will not use electrofishing method

Boulogne-Billancourt, France, 2018-Jan-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — Carrefour does not use electrofishing for its fish supplies in France. As of December, all its suppliers have now confirmed that they will not use this fishing method ( fresh fish and Carrefour-brand frozen fish).

Electrofishing has been banned in Europe since 1998, but has been carried out experimentally since 2007 on the issuing of derogations. At the end of November, the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries said it was in favour of possibly extending the use of electrofishing.

Given the data available about the impacts of this electrofishing, Carrefour is in favour of applying the precautionary principle to it.

Carrefour has set itself the target of ensuring that half of all fish sold by 2020 are sustainably farmed. To do this, Carrefour has decided to give preference to fishing techniques that are less harmful to aquatic ecosystems and to help tackle illegal fishing.

SOURCE: Carrefour Group

 

MEDIA CONTACT

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17
By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

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Walmart launches a first-of-its kind opioid disposal solution — DisposeRx

Walmart launches a first-of-its kind opioid disposal solution — DisposeRx

Retailer first national pharmacy chain to offer free opioid disposal solution at all pharmacy locations

BENTONVILLE, Ark., 2018-Jan-17 — /EPR Retail News/ — In an effort to help curb abuse and misuse, Walmart is launching a first-of-its kind opioid disposal solution – available at no cost – in all company pharmacies.* Known as DisposeRx, the small packet contains ingredients that, according to the manufacturer, when emptied into a pill bottle with warm water, ultimately enable patients to responsibly dispose of leftover medications in their trash.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Institute of Drug Abuse, more than 65 percent of people misusing prescription opioids are getting them from family and friends, and personal prescriptions are one of the main sources of nonmedical opioid abuse. DisposeRx provides a virtually effortless way for patients to destroy leftover opioids and a way to do so without ever leaving home.

The innovative disposal solution will now be provided in addition to ongoing counseling available to Walmart patients on proper opioid use when filling an opioid prescription at any one of its 4,700 pharmacies nationwide. Now, pharmacists can also counsel patients on how to use DisposeRx and distribute an opioid awareness brochure outlining risks and helpful resources.

“The health and safety of our patients is a critical priority; that’s why we’re taking an active role in fighting our nation’s opioid issue – an issue that has affected so many families and communities across America,” said Marybeth Hays, executive vice president of Consumables and Health and Wellness at Walmart U.S. “While this issue requires many resources to solve, we are confident this unique, easy-to-use disposal solution, DisposeRx, will make a meaningful impact on the lives of many. Walmart is incredibly proud to fund this initiative that provides our patients with an opioid disposal solution they can access nationwide, at no cost.”

According to DisposeRx, packets contain a crosslinking polymer blend that, when added to the pill bottle with warm water, sequester any form of prescription drugs – including powders, pills, tablets, capsules, liquids or patches – into a non-divertible and biodegradable gel. The chemicals in the packet are listed as safe by the FDA.

Beginning immediately, patients filling any new Class II opioid prescription at Walmart pharmacies will receive a free DisposeRx packet and opioid safety information brochure when picking up their prescription. Patients with chronic Class II opioid prescriptions will be offered a free DisposeRx packet every six months. Existing pharmacy patients can also request a free DisposeRx packet at any time, including at the upcoming Walmart Wellness Day event on January 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time at all Walmart locations nationwide. Additionally, Sam’s Club patients can access Dispose Rx at their pharmacies.

“About one-third of medications sold go unused. Too often, these dangerous narcotics remain unsecured where children, teens or visitors may have access. I commend Walmart for taking this innovative approach to help keep unused prescription drugs out of the wrong hands,” said Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark.

The launch of DisposeRx in Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies is one of several ways the retailers are helping to address the prescription drug abuse problem. The company urges lawmakers to establish a seven-day supply limit for initial prescriptions issued for acute pain and to require all controlled substance prescriptions be issued electronically, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration. It stocks Naloxone in its pharmacies and will offer Naloxone behind its pharmacy counters for sale or for dispensing by a pharmacist by the end of this month in all states where pharmacy practice laws support its ability to do so. The company also believes education on prescription drug abuse is a key part of the solution and is helping to fund a variety of multi-state programs that teach youth about the dangers of prescription drug use and abuse.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. The company’s legal name will become Walmart Inc., effective on Feb. 1, 2018, to reflect its growing status as an omni-channel retailer. Each week, over 260 million customers and members visit our more than 11,600 stores under nearly 60 banners in 28 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2017 revenue of $485.9 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.

*Walmart patients in Rhode Island and Washington will receive an alternative free disposal solution until third-party testing of DisposeRx is complete in those states. 

SOURCE: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

 

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Waitrose to introduce age limit on sales of high caffeine energy drinks from 5 March 2018

LONDON, 2018-Jan-10 — /EPR Retail News/ — Waitrose has today (4 January 2018 ) announced it will introduce an age limit on sales of high caffeine energy drinks.

From 5 March 2018, customers buying caffeinated energy drinks containing more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre will be asked to prove they are over 16 years of age.

The move builds on existing industry labelling guidelines, which require any soft drink with more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre to carry a high caffeine content warning and state it is not recommended for children.

Waitrose is currently the only UK supermarket to announce it will introduce a sales policy aligned with the guidance present on energy drink packaging.

Simon Moore, Waitrose Director of Technical & Corporate Social Responsibility, commented: ‘As a responsible retailer we want to sell these products in line with the labelling guidance.

‘These drinks carry advice stating that they are not recommended for children, so we’re choosing to proactively act on that guidance, particularly given the widespread concerns which have been raised about these drinks when consumed by under 16s.’

Notes to Editors

More information on high caffeine energy drinks can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.

Waitrose has 352 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 65 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. It combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop – dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced, combined with high standards of customer service. Waitrose also exports products to 53 countries worldwide and has seven shops which operate under licence in the Middle East. Waitrose’s omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, waitrose.com, as well as specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine and waitroseflorist.com for plants and flowers.

Waitrose was awarded the much-coveted European-wide Compassion in World Farming ‘Best Retailer Award’, Soil Association’s ‘Best Organic Supermarket Award 2017′ and The Drinks Business’ ‘Retail Buying Team of the Year Award’.

Enquries
For more information please contact:

Eleanor Gillingham
Telephone: 01344 825080
Email: eleanor.gillingham@waitrose.co.uk

Source: Waitrose

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ShopRite rolls out “Fuel Better” campaign to help customers discover better-for-you energy-rich foods and drinks

Customers looking to boost their energy, lose weight and eat healthier in the new year can discover new foods, recipes and ideas with the help of ShopRite’s dietitians 

Keasbey, New Jersey, 2018-Jan-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — Shoppers looking for foods to help boost their energy in the new year have a valuable resource at their local ShopRite. The supermarket announced today that it has launched “Fuel Better,” a new campaign that provides customers with product and meal suggestions to help increase their energy levels throughout the day.

“Our customers tell us that they want to start the new year off by resolving to eat healthier, lose weight and feel more energetic, and we’re confident that our ‘Fuel Better’ campaign will help them achieve this,” says Natalie Menza-Crowe, RD, MS, director of Health and Wellness at ShopRite.

“Fuel Better,” which runs through the end of February, is the latest entry in ShopRite’s Well Everyday messaging program, a health and wellness-focused initiative launched last year as part of ShopRite’s commitment to providing free health and wellness services, inspiration and education to customers.

“We launched the ‘Fuel Better’ program to give our customers an easy and fun way to create small, achievable wellness goals – such as eating for energy – that can be sustained over the long term. It’s our way of showing customers that by enjoying a healthy balance of foods such as lean proteins, whole grain carbohydrates and heart-healthy fats, they can feel better and have more energy during the day,” says Menza-Crowe.

As part of the “Fuel Better” campaign, shoppers will have the opportunity to sample and discover better-for-you energy-rich foods and drinks while in the store. Shoppers can also receive free nutrition advice from the supermarket’s team of dietitians, who’ll be providing personalized suggestions on everything from fatigue-fighting snack choices to energy-boosting meal choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition, shoppers can visit ShopRite.com to access recipes featured in the campaign.

“Everyone wants to wake up in the morning feeling energized and ready to take on the day,” says Menza-Crowe. “With Fuel Better, we’re providing our shoppers with ideas, product suggestions and recipes that will help give them the healthy energy they need to feel great.”

As part of the eight-week campaign, shoppers can pick up a free “Fuel Better” recipe brochure at the office of their local in-store ShopRite dietitian (also available as a download on www.shoprite.com). The brochure includes ideas for energy-boosting foods such as Cheesy Stuffed Pepper Bowls, Walnut-Herb Chicken Roulade, and desserts such as Almond Butter Blondies and Sweet Potato Dessert Ravioli.

To see a complete list of events that ShopRite’s team of Registered Dietitians will be hosting in celebration of the “Fuel Better” campaign, visit ShopRite.com/health-events.

In addition to in-store events, the “Fuel Better” campaign features colorful signage throughout the store, directing consumers to energy-rich foods in the produce, seafood and center-store aisles. “Fuel Better” messaging will also appear on the supermarket’s website, social media channels, and in weekly circulars.

About ShopRite:
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer-owned cooperative based in Keasbey, NJ, and the largest supermarket cooperative in the United States. With more than 270 ShopRite supermarkets located throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, ShopRite serves more than six million customers each week. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite is dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. Since the program began in 1999, ShopRite Partners In Caring has donated $43 million to food banks that support more than 2,100 worthy charities. As a title sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, ShopRite has donated $30 million to local organizations, hospitals and community groups. For more information, please visit www.shoprite.com.

SOURCE: ShopRite

PR Contacts
Karen O’Shea
Communications Specialist
Email: karen.oshea@wakefern.com

Maureen Gillespie
Manager
Email: maureen.gillespie@wakefern.com
Phone: 732-906-5295

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Dunkin’ Donuts declares donuts now artificial dyes free

Dunkin’ Donuts declares donuts now artificial dyes free

  • Milestone is part of brand’s pledge to eliminate artificial dyes from food and beverages by end of 2018
  • Dunkin’ Donuts introduces Snow Flurries Donut as a new donut variety to begin the New Year

CANTON, MA, 2018-Jan-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Dunkin’ Donuts is kicking off 2018 with news sure to give donut fans a sweet start to the New Year. The brand has removed artificial dyes from its donuts in the U.S., declaring donuts now sold at Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide are no longer being made using colors from artificial sources*. As part of the company’s ongoing efforts to offer guests great-tasting, high-quality products and cleaner menu labels, Dunkin’ Brands Group, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, previously pledged to eliminate artificial dyes from all of its food and beverages in the U.S. by the end of 2018.

According to Tony Weisman, Chief Marketing Officer, Dunkin’ Donuts U.S., “We are pleased to start the New Year with exciting and important donut news for our guests. Eliminating artificial dyes from our donuts is an incredible milestone moment for a fun brand whose products are synonymous with bright, colorful confections. After years of research and development, we are thrilled to be taking such a big step in providing guests with simpler ingredients while still delivering the delicious taste and vivid colors expected with our donuts. We look forward to sharing a sweet 2018 with more donut news and innovative new flavors in the months ahead.”

Weisman added that customers will be hard pressed to see the color difference in the new donuts. For example, a cool new addition to Dunkin’s donut offerings, the Snow Flurries Donut, features a frosted donut with wintry blue icing and special snowflake sprinkles, all without colors from artificial sources. The Snow Flurries Donut is available at participating Dunkin’ Donut restaurants throughout the country for a limited time.

By the end of this year, Dunkin’ Donuts will remove artificial dyes across its menu, including frozen beverages such as COOLATTA® frozen beverages, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and coffee flavorings. Similarly, Dunkin’ Donuts’ sister brand Baskin-Robbins will remove synthetic dyes from its menu, including ice cream sold both at its restaurants and in quarts and pints at retail locations, as well as its syrups, sauces, sprinkles and beverages, including Cappuccino Blast®. The exceptions on both brands’ menus include select supplier-branded ingredients produced by other companies that are used as toppings, ice cream inclusions or decorative elements. Additionally, Baskin-Robbins will take a longer period of time to find replacements for the decorative elements on its ice cream cakes.

Dunkin’ Donuts has been serving guests signature donuts for 68 years. Dunkin’ Donuts is the #1 retailer of donuts in America, and sells 2.7 billion donuts and MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats annually worldwide. Within the United States, Dunkin’ Donuts offers more than 70 varieties of donuts, including beloved flavors such as Boston Kreme, Glazed, Chocolate Glazed Cake and Chocolate Frosted. Additionally, some Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants also feature regional favorites like the Sour Cream Donut in Chicago, and the Peanut Stick in upstate New York.

To learn more about Dunkin’ Donuts, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com, or subscribe to the Dunkin’ Donuts blog to receive notifications at https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog.

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About Dunkin’ Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for 11 years running. The company has more than 12,400 restaurants in 46 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

Media Contact

Heather McIntyre
Dunkin’ Brands
781-737-5200
Heather.McIntyre@dunkinbrands.com

*Toppings for limited edition and custom image donuts may contain synthetic dyes

SOURCE: Dunkin’ Donuts

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Hy-Vee pharmacies supports Iowa Department of Public Health in its fight against substance abuse and addiction issues

New Consolidated Website and Helpline Established by State of Iowa to Help Those in Need

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, 2018-Jan-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Hy-Vee, Inc. announced today that all Hy-Vee pharmacies in Iowa will partner with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to provide patients and employees with information on how they can get help for opioid and other substance abuse issues.

In a statewide initiative, all 104 Hy-Vee pharmacies in Iowa will post information about a new website recently launched by the IDPH called YourLifeIowa.org to bring awareness and offer help to those individuals and families dealing with substance abuse and gambling addiction, as well as assist with suicide prevention. In addition, a new 24-hour helpline is in place: (855) 581-8111. Counter cards and information tear pads will be located at each Hy-Vee pharmacy, and informational posters will be located in Hy-Vee employee break rooms.

“There are Iowans who are facing adversity and need help when it comes to substance abuse and other addictions,” said Kristin Williams, Hy-Vee’s senior vice president and chief health officer. “As a pharmaceutical leader in Iowa, we want to direct our patients and employees to a place where they can get help for themselves or for loved ones, and YourLifeIowa is an excellent starting point.”

YourLifeIowa.org incorporates information previously found on the IDPH Suicide Prevention website, as well as the 1-800-BETS OFF and DrugFreeInfo (formerly the Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center) websites. In addition to the 24-hour telephone helpline (all three previous toll-free numbers will still be active), the new YourLifeIowa system offers mobile-friendly Internet-based communications (e.g., online chat) and texting capabilities.

One of the major enhancements of the site is a facility locator, which allows treatment facilities to feature a welcome video, contact information, services offered, map, picture and description.

All services offered by YourLifeIowa are free and confidential.

###

Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 245 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $10 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company’s 85,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.

SOURCE: Hy-Vee Inc.

Media Inquiries

Contact our communications department by phone at (515) 559-5770

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PetSmart offers tips for pet health and wellness in 2018

New Year’s Health Resolutions Not Just for People, but Pets Too

PHOENIX, AZ, 2018-Jan-05 — /EPR Retail News/ — The start of a new year means new beginnings, resolutions and goals. As people everywhere make to-do lists to help enrich and better their lives, these lists should include our pets too, says Lisa Darling, DVM, on-staff veterinarian for services at PetSmart.

“With general health and wellness top-of-mind this time of year, we should also add our pets into the equation for 2018 goals and New Year’s resolutions,” said Dr. Darling. “Weight is a key indicator of health, and considering that 50 percent of pets in the U.S. are classified as overweight, there is no better time for pet parents to evaluate their pet’s diet, exercise and activities.”

PetSmart has launched its New Year, New You Pet Collection to provide pet parents with a variety of products to help pets meet health and wellness goals, including active toys, weight management dog and cat food formulas, healthy natural treats, oral health and at-home grooming tools, in addition to harnesses, collars, leashes and winter outdoor apparel. You can view the entire collection on www.PetSmart.com/NewYearNewYou.

To start you and your pet’s New Year off right, PetSmart’s Dr. Darling shares 10 tips for pet health and wellness in 2018:

#1. Check Your Pet’s Food. Pets at varying ages have different nutrient requirements, so consider assessing your pet’s food and adjust accordingly. For example, if your dog is overweight, certain weight management pet food formulas can help a pet lose weight, along with exercise. Consult your veterinarian on any changes to your pet’s food, and always accurately measure your pet’s food vs. eyeballing.

#2. Stop all Table Scraps. We might think we are “treating” our pet when we give them human food from our plates, but we are likely doing more harm than good. Research natural, healthy pet treats, like the Only Natural Pet® Freeze-Dried Chicken Bites, and get an on-trend treat jar for your kitchen or mudroom like this ceramic pet treat jar from ED Ellen DeGeneres. Make treating your pets a healthy activity.

#3. Start a New Activity. With so many pet-friendly venues and activities, it’s easier than ever to incorporate your pet into a new activity like a hike, Doga (dog yoga) or paddle boarding. Research pet-friendly meet-up groups for ideas and events in your area. Whatever activity you choose, try to do it on a regular schedule in the New Year. It’s a great way to bond, get out of the house and reap the benefits of physical activity.

#4. Get Some New Toys. Freshen up your pet’s toy collection with new items that stimulate their brain or promote activities like fetch. Studies show mental stimulation can likely help reduce cognitive deterioration in aging animals. Items like the Trixie Chess Game Toy or this amphibious fetch toy are a great way to get your dog moving. For cats, this Whisker City Catnip Cyclone or Peek-a-Prize Toy Box are great options too.

#5. Teach a New Trick. Similar to toys, teaching pets a new trick can also be stimulating. Sign up for pet training courses like PetSmart’s Trick Training, where dogs can learn fun and playful tricks such as crawling, taking a bow, high fiving and rolling over. Additionally, for those that want to get involved in their community with their dog, PetSmart’s Dog Therapy Training prepares pet parents and their dogs for Therapy Dog evaluation, which is conducted by third parties dedicated to registering therapy pets. Once officially registered, a therapy dog and pet parent can work together to give back in their community by delivering emotional support at hospitals, schools, community centers and other local programs.

#6. Make a Play Date. Get social in the New Year! Consider setting up a pet play date with a friend and their pet at a nearby park. Doggie Day Camp is a great way to socialize pets and meet new pet parents as well. Assess your dog’s willingness to mix with other dogs before heading to a play date. If your dog is tolerant of other dogs, has good recall skills and focuses on you when you engage him or her, you and your pup are likely ready for social settings.

#7. Groom Your Pet. It is recommended to professionally groom your pet every four to six weeks. Between salon appointments, use at-home grooming tools such as a cat or dog-specific tooth brush and specially formulated tooth paste, a nice rubber brush to help de-shed and invigorate the skin and coat, ear cleaner and cotton balls to gently cleanse the ears, and wipes for cleaning around the face, mouth and eyes.

#8. Check Vaccinations. Make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations. In 2017 there was a resurgence and spread of many infectious diseases across the U.S. Many of these diseases are preventable through vaccinations, including Canine Influenza, Leptospirosis (which can be transmitted to people) and Lyme. The cost of prevention is far less than the cost of the treatment, and helps to keep pets healthy and free from disease.

#10. Make 2018 Stress-Free. Eliminating or reducing stress in a pet’s life can be an important focus to enhanced health and wellness. There are many calming products that help reduce stress and assist pets in coping with routine and non-routine activities. PetSmart offers a number of calming solutions such as the Thundershirt, which calms dogs with consistent pressure on their body like a soothing hug; collars and diffusers that release pheromones similar to what female dogs release when nursing their new puppies; as well as Licks Zenand other chews with natural supplements that deliver calming effects.

About PetSmart®

PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart’s passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 55,000 associates, operate 1,600 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as pet-focused services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart™ Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption. PetSmart, together with non-profits PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 7.6 million adoptions – more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. The company’s portfolio of digital resources for pet parents includes PetSmart.com, petMD.com, Pawculture.com, AllPaws, an online pet adoption platform that helps potential pet parents find the perfect pet to adopt based on their home, family and lifestyle, as well as BlogPaws, the world’s first pet blogger and influencer network. Through these digital platforms, PetSmart offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in the U.S. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart
See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart
Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart
PetSmart homepage: www.PetSmart.com

SOURCE: PetSmart®

Turn your passion for pets into a career you’ll love! Visit careers.petsmart.comto learn more about corporate, retail store, and Distribution Center opportunities.

Contacts:
Virginia Hock
Golin for PetSmart
469-680-2611
vhock@golin.com
PetSmart 24-Hour Media Line: 623-587-2177

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Stater Bros. partners with LifeStream Blood Bank to host blood drives at selected supermarkets

Stater Bros. to host Blood Drives in Big Bear, Hemet, Menifee, Palm Springs, Sun City and Yucaipa

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, 2018-Jan-04 — /EPR Retail News/ — Stater Bros. is proud to partner with LifeStream Blood Bank in an ongoing effort to boost local, life-saving blood reserves.

Each month, Stater Bros. hosts blood drives at selected supermarkets.   For the month of January, blood drives will be held at the following Stater Bros. Supermarket locations:

Date                                 Location                                                                     Time
1/4                                   25904 Newport Road, Menifee 92584                       11am – 4pm

1/15                                 11365 Bryant Street, Yucaipa 92399                          11am – 4pm

1/18                                 1717 East Vista Chino, Palm Springs 92262               11am – 4pm

1/22                                 210 East Stetson Avenue, Hemet 92543                     11am – 4pm

1/22                                 42171 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, 92315               11am – 4pm

1/23                                 27160 Sun City Blvd, Sun City 92586                          11am – 4pm

 

Donors will receive a LifeStream “Make Your Resolution Matter” T-shirt while supplies last. All donors must bring a picture ID and it is recommended that donors eat and are well hydrated before donating blood.

Stater Bros. Markets was founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, California, and has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately owned Supermarket Chain in Southern California.  The Company currently operates 171 Supermarkets, and there are approximately 18,000 members of the Stater Bros. Supermarket Family.  Since 2008, Stater Bros. Markets and Stater Bros. Charities have contributed more than $75 million in food and funds to local Southern California communities. For more information, go to www.staterbros.com.

SOURCE: Stater Bros. Markets

MEDIA CONTACT
publicrelations@staterbros.com

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Tesco supports the first Public Health England Change4Life campaign to promote healthier snacking for children

Tesco supports the first Public Health England Change4Life campaign to promote healthier snacking for children

Welwyn Garden City, UK, 2018-Jan-02 — /EPR Retail News/ — As part of a wider approach to help colleagues and customers on health, Tesco has today stepped up plans to help make healthier choices a little easier for shoppers by backing the first Public Health England Change4Life campaign to promote healthier snacking for children.

Building on the success of Tesco’s 2017 ‘Little Helps to Healthier Living’ campaign which saw the biggest monthly increase in the healthiness of their customers’ baskets, the new initiative will help parents, shopping in-store and online, choose affordable healthier snacks that are 100 calories or less.

The campaign, which runs for the month of January, will appear in all Tesco stores and online at Tesco.com. It includes in-store point of sale promotional materials of healthier kids’ snacks featuring Change4Life branding. The snacks – which include Pink Lady Apple Snack Packs, Goodness Strawberry Cereal bars and Tesco Pineapple Pieces in Juice 120g – will be available at everyday low prices.

Online, Tesco will use innovative technology in partnership with SpoonGuru to allow customers to quickly and simply find 130 healthier snacks containing 100 calories or less.

Support for the Change4Life healthier snacking campaign is part of Tesco’s integrated approach to help colleagues and customers at a time of the year when healthier eating is front of mind. Other key initiatives include:

  • Helpful ‘little swaps’ – at the front of all large stores a helpful basket comparison will highlight ten ‘little swaps’ that are lower in sat fat, salt and sugar. Taken together the ten little swaps will be 18% lower in price than the less healthy alternative basket. Additionally, 60 healthier alternatives will be highlighted under a ‘Helpful Little Swaps’ banner in-store and online.
  • Weekly Little Helps – each week in January Tesco will offer lower prices on fresh fruit and vegetables in store and online, including apples, avocados and salad tomatoes.
  • Food Love Stories advertising – Tesco will promote the recipe for ‘Nana’s Magic Soup’, offering 2 of your 5 a day per portion, on TV and offer 25% off all ingredients – alongside other Food Love Stories spanning all meal occasions, offering inspiration on healthier cooking.
  • Free Fruit for Kids – increased communication of Tesco’s pioneering Free Fruit for Kids scheme in stores which has seen kids enjoy over 32 million pieces of fruit since launch in 2017.

Matt Davies CEO for UK and ROI said:

“We know that our customers want us to help them eat more healthily and it can be particularly difficult to encourage children to eat healthy snacks. By promoting a wide range of snacks, aligned with Public Health England’s campaign, we hope to make it easier for families to make a healthier start to the year. This is part of a wider programme to help our colleagues and customers stay healthy.”

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England, said:

“Half of the sugar children eat and drink is coming from unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks. The Change4Life campaign is our way of giving parents a helping hand to make healthier choices for their children. We highly value Tesco’s support for Change4Life and its wider efforts to make it simpler to eat healthily.”

Further action Tesco has taken on health to help customers make healthier food choices every time they shop includes:

  • In 2014 Tesco announced it would remove sweets and chocolates from its checkouts across all store formats, including smaller convenience stores.
  • In 2015 Tesco announced that all the children’s lunchbox-sized soft drinks it sells would have no added sugar in them.
  • In 2016, Tesco introduced Free Fruit for Kids in over 800 Tesco stores across the UK. This is aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among kids that will stay with them as they grow up, and to make it easier for children to get the fruit they need.
  • For three years, Tesco has worked in partnership with Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation, raising £24m.
  • Tesco has also partnered with Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life since 2002 raising over £40m.
  • Tesco has also increased the number of healthier options at Tesco Cafés, making it easier for customers to have an affordable, healthier meal while shopping in store.
  • In May 2017, Tesco delivered integrated colleague and customer health events in all UK stores, with little helps to make it easy for consumers to choose healthier food, many of which have become permanent:
    • Permanent price reduction on over 200 healthier lines, including fresh fruit and vegetables.
    • Free Fruit for Kids offer always available in larger stores.
    • Increasing the number of promotions and the promotional space for healthier lines.
    • Making the healthier version of brands cheaper than less healthy option.
    • Front of store basket comparisons showing customers that swapping to healthier choices is cheaper as well as healthier.
    • Tesco’s food brand campaign, Food Love Stories featuring healthy, affordable recipes with prominence of ingredients in store.
    • In store fundraising for charities raising over £1m.
  • The event marked the biggest change seen in the healthiness of customers’ baskets in response to a campaign – Tesco saw customers choose more items lower in calories, fat, salt and sugar as a result.

Further details of Tesco’s health strategy can be found here: tescoplc.com/little-helps-plan/products-health/

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

  • Tesco’s Healthy Little Differences Tracker reports the nutrient profiling score (as defined by the Food Standards Agency) of the products it sells, and through this Tesco has been able to measure the impact of interventions on shopping behaviours. During the period of the 2017 ‘Little Helps to Healthier Living’ event, it saw a significant improvement in the score of the average shopping basket at Tesco: the biggest increase it has seen outside of seasonal changes.
  • In partnership with SpoonGuru, Tesco is helping customers quickly and easily search for healthy, dietary and lifestyle options through 13 new online filters, including low fat, gluten free and lactose free.
  • The Public Health England Change4Life campaign will run from Tuesday 2 January 2018 across England for 8 weeks and will be supported with an exciting new TV and radio advert, out of home and digital advertising, social media, partnerships and nationwide roadshows. nhs.uk/change4life

For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on 01707 918 701     
We are a team of over 450,000 colleagues dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.

SOURCE: Tesco PLC

 

 

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Santa Fe Importers recalls pork salami products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials

WASHINGTON, 2017-Dec-13 — /EPR Retail News/ — Santa Fe Importers, Inc. a Long Beach, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 143 pounds of pork salami products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal shavings, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today (Dec. 12, 2017).

The pork salami items were produced on Aug. 3, 2017. The following products are subject to recall: 

  • 3.5 to 4.0-lbs. random weight of plastic wrapped packages of “MARISA PREMIUM QUALITY GENOA SALAMI ITALIAN BRAND,” with a packaging date of Sept. 14, 2017 and a lot code of 257-100161 in the upper right hand corner.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 4118” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in California.

The problem was discovered after the company received a complaint from their retail customer and notified FSIS on Dec. 11, 2017.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Vincent Passanisi, president, at (562) 437-7775. Media with questions about the recall can contact Jorge Endara, general manager, at (562) 437-7775.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

USDA Recall Classifications
Class I This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product.
Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.

Contact:
Congressional and Public Affairs
Autumn Canaday
(202) 720-9113
Press@fsis.usda.gov

Source: USDA

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Barnes & Noble announces three free holiday shipping offers to help shoppers this holiday season

Free Shipping and Cut-Off Dates to Ensure Holiday Gifts Are Delivered in Time for That Special Holiday Moment

New York, NY, 2017-Dec-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest retail bookseller, today (December 11, 2017) announced three free holiday shipping offers to help shoppers get the most out of this holiday season. The free shipping offers include Barnes & Noble’s Holiday Gift Guide, where customers can get the best last-minute gift ideas anywhere.

“We understand the holiday shopping season is a stressful time for all, and we want to make it as easy as possible for our customers,” said Fred Argir, Chief Digital Officer.  “With our specially curated Holiday Gift Guide, which includes an exclusive assortment of books, toys, games and more, coupled with our free shipping, every shopper can find what they’re looking for at Barnes & Noble.”

Barnes & Noble’s free shipping will be available on all items purchased online.*

Free Shipping Offers:

  • Free Shipping Day (no code required): Begins on December 15, 2017, and ends December 16, 2017 at 2:59 am EST
  • Free Shipping Day (code required): Begins December 16, 2017, and ends December 18, 2017 at 2:59a m EST
  • Free Expedited Shipping on Orders $75.00+: Begins December 20, 2017, and ends December 21, 2017 at 11:59 am EST

Shipping Cut-Offs:

  • Standard: December 18, 2017 at 11:59 am EST
  • Express: December 19, 2017 at 11:59 am EST
  • Expedited: December 21, 2017 at 11:59 am EST

From the season’s biggest books to the top toys and dedicated trend shops for major properties such as Harry Potter, Star Wars and FAO Schwartz, shoppers will find what they’re looking for at Barnes & Noble this holiday season in stores and online, while supplies last.

Customers are invited to Barnes & Noble’s 632 stores nationwide and browse the online Holiday Gift Guide at BN.com to discover the hottest books and other great gift items available this holiday season. And for even greater value, customers are invited to join the Barnes & Noble Member program. Designed for Barnes & Noble’s most loyal customers, the Barnes & Noble Membership program gives Members 40 percent off all hardcover bestsellers and 10 percent off virtually everything else in Barnes & Noble stores throughout the year.

Customers are encouraged to join the conversation about all the great gifts available at Barnes & Noble this holiday season on their social channels by using the hashtag, #ALLIWANT.

*Some exclusions apply.

About Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is the world’s largest retail bookseller, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products.  The Company operates 632 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com).  The Nook Digital business offers a lineup of popular NOOK® tablets and eReaders and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store®. The NOOK Store features more than 4.5 million digital books in the US (www.nook.com), plus periodicals and comics, and offers the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps™ available for Android™, iOS® and Windows®.

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company’s corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

Barnes & Noble®, Barnes & Noble Booksellers® and Barnes & Noble.com® are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its affiliates. NOOK® and the NOOK logos are trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.

For more information on Barnes & Noble, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat (bnsnaps), and like us on Facebook. For more information on NOOK, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

All Contacts:
Mary Ellen Keating
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3323
mkeating@bn.com

Alex Ortolani
Director, Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
(212) 633-3379
aortolani@bn.com

Source: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

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Schnucks encourages customers to get a flu shot by offering a $10 Schnucks Gift Card

ST. LOUIS, 2017-Dec-07 — /EPR Retail News/ — In observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), Schnucks is offering a $10 Schnucks Gift Card to all patients who get a flu shot at any of the 95 Schnucks Pharmacies between Dec. 6 and Dec. 12, 2017.

“Schnucks Pharmacies make it easy for patients to get vaccinated,” said Senior Director of Pharmacy Operations Bob Buganski. “No appointment is necessary, no prescription is required, and our pharmacists are certified immunizers. Patients can simply stop by during regular hours and request a flu shot.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established NIVW as a reminder of the importance of an annual flu shot. According to the CDC, every year an average of five to 20 percent of the United States population gets the flu, 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and 36,000 people die from flu related causes. Elderly individuals, young children and those with certain health conditions are at a higher risk for serious flu complications. The agency recommends that everyone six months of age and older get a flu shot.

The cost of the vaccine at Schnucks Pharmacies is $41.99, however, there is no charge for Medicare Part B patients and most insurance plans cover the vaccine, so those patients are only responsible for their plan co-pay, if applicable.

In addition to the Flu vaccine, Schnucks Pharmacies also offer several other immunizations. For more information, please visit the Schnucks Pharmacy Immunization Page.

Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned grocery/pharmacy retailer committed to nourishing people’s lives. The company takes pride in its community partnerships and gives more than $13 million annually in food to food pantries and more than $1.7 million to not-for-profit organizations through the company’s My Schnucks Card program. Schnucks operates 100 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa. Privately held, Schnucks employs 14,000 teammates and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Follow Schnucks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/schnucks.

Media Contact:

Paul Simon
314-994-4603
psimon@schnucks.com

Source: Schnucks Market

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Rite Aid to Host Flu Facebook Live Event with certified immunizing pharmacist Chris Altman and Dr. Jennifer Caudle on Wednesday, Dec. 6

Rite Aid Certified Immunizing Pharmacist Chris Altman and Dr. Caudle to Host Flu Facebook Live Event on Wednesday, Dec. 6  

Camp Hill, Pa., 2017-Dec-06 — /EPR Retail News/ — In an effort to encourage people to get a flu shot to protect themselves from the flu this holiday season, Rite Aid is teaming up with Dr. Jennifer Caudle, a nationally renowned health expert and practicing family physician, during National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). Created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2005, NIVW is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine after the holiday season into January. Last week, the CDC reported that flu season is off to an early start and could peak over the holidays if flu activity continues to increase at its current weekly pace.

Dr. Caudle and Rite Aid certified immunizing pharmacist Chris Altman will host a special flu-focused Facebook Live event on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET to answer questions about the flu, address common misconceptions and provide helpful tips on how to stay healthy throughout flu season. To learn more about the event and set a reminder, visit www.facebook.com/riteaid.

“Vaccination is the single best way to protect yourself against the flu,” says Dr. Caudle. “Rite Aid pharmacists undergo special training and are professionally certified to administer immunizations and with thousands of locations across the country, Rite Aid pharmacies are a convenient and professional setting for flu shots. That’s why I’m partnering with Rite Aid and reminding people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

As one of the most accessible healthcare providers, Rite Aid’s 11,000 certified immunizing pharmacists are a valuable resource in helping people fight the flu, which the CDC estimates will infect one in five Americans this year. Rite Aid pharmacists are specially trained in immunizations and are able to make vaccine recommendations based on an individuals’ specific health needs.

“Our pharmacists are on the frontlines of healthcare in the communities they serve, and when it comes to fighting the flu, as certified immunizers, they can be a patient’s first line of defense,” says Jocelyn Konrad, Rite Aid executive vice president of pharmacy. “And because flu activity typically peaks between December and March according to the CDC, National Influenza Vaccination Week is the perfect time to remind people there’s still time to get vaccinated and protect themselves as well as their family this flu season.”

The CDC recommends that most healthy Americans, six months or older, including pregnant women, get vaccinated. Since it takes about two weeks from the date of your shot for your body to develop its full defense against the flu, waiting until there is an outbreak may be too late.

Seasonal flu shots are available at Rite Aid locations across the country. This year Rite Aid is offering three types of flu vaccines: a quadrivalent flu vaccine, which offers protection against four strains of the flu, the standard trivalent vaccine, and FLUAD, a trivalent vaccine with adjuvant, an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response to vaccination, which is approved for people 65 and older.

Flu shots are covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare Part B and are available during pharmacy hours; no appointment is necessary. To locate the nearest Rite Aid pharmacy, visit www.riteaid.com or call 1-800-RITE-AID.

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains fiscal 2017 annual revenues of $32.8 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.

Dr. Jennifer Caudle is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and Associate Professor in the department of Family Medicine at Rowan University-School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is a regular on-air health expert for local and national news networks. She has appeared on CNN, The Dr. Oz Show, FOX News, CBS Philly 3 News, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, PBS and many others. Her health articles have been published in The Daily Beast, CNN.com, DoctorOz.com, abcNEWS.com and she has been quoted by USA Today, Huff Post, Reader’s Digest, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, Yahoo and many other media outlets. In 1999, Dr. Caudle earned the title of Miss Iowa and competed in the 1999 Miss America Pageant. Her website is: http://www.jennifercaudle.com/.

Contact:

Media:
Ashley Flower
717-975-5718

Source: Rite Aid Corporation

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Screwfix research reveals that More than half of UK tradespeople (57%) struggle to find skilled labour

  • More than half of tradespeople (57%) struggle to find skilled labour – 37% think apprenticeships are not respected as much as university and 31% believe school leavers are put off by a poor perception of trade careers

Yeovil, United Kingdom, 2017-Dec-04 — /EPR Retail News/ — UK tradespeople are optimistic about the future, with 82% expecting business activity to remain at the same level or grow over the next 12 months, additionally, nearly half (45%) report being busier than last year. However, research conducted by trade retailer, Screwfix, has revealed the majority (57%) are reporting difficulties in recruiting staff to support them. This is primarily due to:

  • a lack of focus on encouraging new people to train in the trades
  • not enough local skilled tradespeople
  • too much red tape.

For those who struggle to recruit skilled employees, more than one third (37%) believe it is because apprenticeships are not given the same level of respect as a university education. Furthermore, 31% say poor public perception of a career in the trade means school leavers are not interested in pursuing a future in construction.

The research, conducted as part of Screwfix Trade Pulse*, a monthly index of more than 500 UK tradespeople, also revealed strong work levels across the trade at the moment, as nearly one fifth (18%) of tradespeople has more work than they can handle and 40% are quoting for more jobs than 12 months ago.

Nearly all (94%) tradespeople said they would recommend a career in the trade and of the reasons why, 85% say they have a strong sense of achievement when a job is done and, 80% enjoy seeing the results of their hard work.

More than half (57%) of those surveyed said they started as apprentices and, when it comes to increasing the numbers undertaking trade apprenticeships, more than one third (35%) believe greater focus is needed on vocational education in schools. More than one quarter (26%) believe improved awareness about the opportunities offered by a career in the trade would drive greater uptake of apprenticeships, with 19% saying that reducing red tape for employers looking to hire an apprentice should be considered.

The research also looked at views around those entering construction at a later stage in their careers. The significant majority (82%) of tradespeople think more could be done to attract people to the trade further into their working lives. More than two thirds (69%) think increasing awareness of the opportunities available would help attract people into the trade and 61% believe greater knowledge of the support available to retrain is also crucial.

Graham Bell, CEO of Screwfix, comments: “When we speak to tradespeople across our 533 stores, they reflect what these findings show us. Tradespeople tell us they have full work diaries but, many struggle to recruit skilled employees when looking to support their growing business so, it is clear that focused efforts are needed to drive recruitment and training into the trades.

“There is much focus on a reported construction skills challenge with various reasons given including loss of talent during the downturn and a lack of new entrants joining the trade. That’s why, now more than ever, all parties including government, suppliers and education providers should work together. It was encouraging to see the investment pledged into improving construction skills by the government in the recent Budget but, collectively, we also need to demonstrate why construction is such a great sector to work in and, help those who may be interested in embarking on a career in the trade to overcome barriers they may face.  We also need to support tradespeople who want to take on apprentices or hire skilled labour to support their business at a time of much opportunity.”

Screwfix supports the trade however it can, so alongside practical support such as opening a store at the rate of one per week, to bring Screwfix even closer, it offers ‘Your Guide to Hiring an Apprentice’, a free, bitesize guide available in stores for those tradespeople who may be looking to take on an apprentice. To further shine a light on those hardworking new entrants to the trade, it also holds an annual Trade Apprentice competition where a £10,000 business start-up kit is up for grabs. Both this award and its Britain’s Top Tradesperson nationwide search showcase what a great career option the trade offers, whether you start out as an apprentice or retrain later in your working life.

In addition, to support skills growth in the construction trade, Screwfix has recently started to work with colleges directly, partnering locally first with Yeovil College. It has invested in the Screwfix Trade Skills Centre, a new purpose-built site for students studying the pilot Screwfix Trade Academy course, which covers bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry and electrical contracting. The first recruits started in September 2017.

Screwfix is also looking at other ways it can support the trade and will be launching further initiatives in the future.

Screwfix Trade Pulse is a monthly index which surveys more than 500 UK tradespeople to track work levels and optimism among the trade.  Nearly 250 tradespeople were also surveyed on special topic areas including skills and availability of labour. The retailer undertakes the research to gain greater insight into the needs of its customers to ensure it provides the services and products required.
PRESS information:

For more information, please contact:

Georgina Lineton
McCann Public Relations
Tel: 0121 713 3579
georgina.lineton@mccann.com

Source: Kingfisher

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CVS Health offers Meningitis B vaccines to students, faculty and staff at UMass Amherst

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Dec-01 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is offering Meningitis B vaccines to students, faculty and staff at UMass Amherst, in response to two confirmed cases of Meningitis B on campus. CVS Pharmacy stores and MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics have vaccines available to protect patients against the disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that the strains of the meningococcal bacteria that caused both student’s infections are closely related, meaning there may be an increased risk of the disease for other undergraduates on campus. UMass Amherst students who have not been vaccinated are encouraged to get vaccinated. In addition, anyone who has had close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with a meningococcal illness, as well as faculty and staff who have conditions such as asplenia, a complement deficiency, or sickle cell anemia, should also receive the vaccine.

Meningitis B vaccines are fairly new and most college students have not received the vaccine previously. All college students are required to receive a vaccine that protect against four other strains of the meningococcal disease (A, C, W, and Y), but that vaccine does not protect against B, which is the cause of the current infections at UMass Amherst.

Vaccination is the most effective way to protect people from meningococcal infection and CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic will be offering the Meningitis B vaccine at the following locations1:

  • 165 University Drive, Amherst, MA 01002 (MinuteClinic also available)
  • 76 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002
  • 367 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035 (Located inside Target)
  • 366 King Street, Northampton, MA 01060 (MinuteClinic also available)
  • 90 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060
  • 70 West State Street, Granby, MA 01033
  • Crystal Springs Plaza, 151 North Main Street, Belchertown, MA 01007
  • Route 10, 118 Northampton Street, Easthampton, MA 01027
  • 1616 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA 01020
  • 400 Beech Street, Holyoke, MA 01040
  • 1176 Granby Road, Chicopee, MA 01020
  • 451 Center Street, Ludlow, MA 01056
  • 250 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke, MA 01040
  • 50 Holyoke Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 (Located inside Target)
  • 1990 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095

All CVS Pharmacy locations can order doses of the vaccine upon request and have it available the next day. Pharmacy and medical clinic staff can assist patients in determining whether the vaccine is covered by their insurance plan.

“Immunizations are an important part of preventive care and a critical way to prevent serious diseases, like Meningitis B,” said Tobias Barker, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of MinuteClinic. “Our CVS pharmacists and MinuteClinic nurse practitioners are ready to provide meningitis vaccinations to the UMass Amherst community, and can help ensure that patients stay up to date on vaccinations in the future.”

No appointment is needed to receive a meningitis vaccination. Patients should bring both their health insurance and prescription insurance cards.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com/.

Media Contact:
CVS Health
Amy Lanctot
(401) 770-2931
Amy.Lanctot@CVSHealth.com

1 Vaccines are available when an immunizing pharmacist or MinuteClinic nurse practitioner is on duty, while supplies last.

SOURCE: CVS Health

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Sainsbury’s partners with etiquette experts Debrett’s for a guide to Christmas gift-giving

Sainsbury’s partners with etiquette experts Debrett’s for a guide to Christmas gift-giving

 

Debrett’s new guide to festive faux pas says a text message thank you isn’t enough; don’t Insta-boast and always bring a bottle for the host – but don’t expect to drink it yourself.

London, 2017-Dec-01 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sainsbury’s has teamed up with etiquette experts Debrett’s to help party-goers through the festive season with a guide to Christmas gift-giving, being the perfect host, and how to win at being a guest.

The guide – alongside research into the worst social faux pas – has highlighted where we’re getting it right (and wrong) over the Christmas period. It has been designed to help the half (56%) of the population who say they feel unsure of festive social etiquette. Generous Britons, millions of whom will gift friends and acquaintances from their hairdressers and postmen to their priests with a bottle of something delicious this Christmas, admit that they feel clueless when it comes to correct gifting protocol.

According to the bastion of British manners, many millions of us will fall foul of what they’ve proclaimed to be etiquette blunders this Christmas: 3 million of us will post pictures of presents to Instagram, 33 million will shun stationery for a text message thank you and 4 million will deconstruct hampers to re-gift their contents.

However, guests will be relieved to know that you “officially” can’t go wrong giving food and drink, as nearly half of those questioned think it’s the safest choice for the widest array of people (49%), and a quarter (23%) say a bottle of booze is their go-to gift for hard-to-buy-for friends and family – above books, clothes, jewelry and electronics. In fact, nearly two thirds (62%) will give an alcoholic gift this Christmas and more than a quarter would like to receive food (27%) or a bottle of drink (29%) over any other gift this Christmas, with posh chocolates and whisky topping their lists.

But, while seven in ten (71%) will follow the guidelines and bring a bottle for their host over Christmas, three quarters who do so (73%) will also expect to drink it. According to Debrett’s, it’s perfectly acceptable for a host to serve a bottle given to them by a guest, but it is the host’s decision to do so so guests musn’t feel offended either way.

Lucy Hume, Associate Director at Debrett’s and author of the guide, said: “Sainsbury’s research shows that many of us are still unsure about the etiquette of giving gifts at Christmas. Thankfully, it might be a whole lot simpler than we think, with the majority of us saying we prefer both to give and to receive items of food or drink. There are still some pointers to bear in mind, however, so we’ve joined forces with Sainsbury’s to help answer those gift-giving dilemmas this Christmas.”

Paul Mills-Hicks, Food Commercial Director, Sainsbury’s said: “We want to help our customers live well this Christmas, and that’s why we’ve teamed up with Debrett’s on this fun guide to help our customers navigate the seasonal social complexities. We know that almost a fifth of Brits buy presents for their friends and family from the supermarket and lots will be gifting chocolates or a bottle of something nice to everyone from their relatives to their postman. We’ve got gifts to suit all budgets and tastes – as well as the all-important thank you notes!”

Sainsbury’s and Debrett’s have created the ten-point plan to help guide anxious shoppers through the socially perilous season.

Sainsbury’s and Debrett’s Guide to Christmas Gift-Giving:

Saying Thank You: The handwritten thank you letter may be on the decline but that doesn’t mean you can get away without a show of gratitude – if there’s no headed stationery available, then digital thanks are better than no thanks at all.

Bringing a bottle: Don’t expect to drink a bottle you bring to a party, but do be prepared to open one you’re given.

Social Strife: Posting presents on social media is bad form, as well as unseemly gloating you could also risk outing a re-gifter.

Re-presenting: A hamper you won’t eat all of? Unfortunately, a re-gifted paté or jar of piccalilli just won’t cut the mustard when it comes to good gift-giving etiquette – splash out and buy them their own biscuits, luxury oils or box of chocolates.

Sweet Treats: Christmas, sadly, doesn’t mean a free-for-all on confectionery for everyone. It’s polite to check with parents before unloading sweet treats on their children.

Alcoholic Alternatives: You can’t go wrong with a bottle of booze, but make sure to put some thought into the choice – with cocktails on the rise, spirits can make a fun alternative to wine or whiskey, but stick to port for those traditionalists.

Bearing Gifts: Always come bearing gifts. A bottle of wine or a box of chocolates are customary but if it’s a longer stay over Christmas think about something more substantial.

All wrapped up: You should wrap food and wine to elevate it from a practical contribution to a thoughtful gift.

Making a match: You can have a go at matching the wine to a meal if going over for dinner, but more importantly, just make sure you bring a bottle.

Media contact:
press_office@sainsburys.co.uk
0207 695 7295

Source: Sainsbury’s

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Visa releases travel and spend data timed with the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™

Visa, the Official Payment Service Partner of FIFA, releases travel and spend data timed with the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™

SAN FRANCISCO, 2017-Nov-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — In celebration of the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, Visa (NYSE: V), the Official Payment Service Partner of FIFA, released travel and spending data for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Throughout official FIFA venues, Visa will enable a cash-free fan experience by implementing point-of-sale terminals that accept a Visa credit or debit card and a range of digital payments, such as those made via phone or watch.

These enhancements ensure official FIFA venues are equipped with the latest in payment innovation and are ready for the increase in expected international visitors to Russia. Based on spending trends and insights from Visa, it is projected that Russia will host an additional 300,000 to 500,000 international visitors1 during the months of June and July 2018, on top of a baseline average of 4.3 million total international visitors2 to Russia during that same time period over the past four years.

Based on historical data1 from the previous four FIFA World Cup™ tournaments, Visa projects foreign visitors to Russia will represent a 6 to 10 percent increase in foreign visitors to the country in June and July 2018. The largest share of non-native travelers to Russia are forecast to come from:

  • Europe (69 percent)
  • Asia Pacific (12 percent)
  • Americas (8 percent)

Based on historical data3 from the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, Visa anticipates Russia can expect to see an increase in per traveler spending. On average, visitors attending the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ spent 31 percent more3 per card than regular tourists in Brazil. Visa projects this difference was a result of FIFA World Cup™ fans spending:

  • Over 25 percent more at restaurants
  • Over 10 percent more on transportation
  • Close to 10 percent more on lodging

“As the Official Payment Service Partner of FIFA, Visa is excited for fans all over the world to join us in Russia,” said Ekaterina Petelina, country manager, Visa Russia. “From unveiling the latest payment innovations to upgrading payment terminals to allow for contactless cards and digital payments, such as those made via phone or watch, throughout official venues, Visa will continue to elevate the fan experience. Visa provides simple and secure payment options for those in attendance, so they can get back to their seats quickly and focus on the match.”

Global ticket sales for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ continue to perform well, as FIFA recently reported4 that:

  • Close to 800,000 tickets have been sold so far to the FIFA World Cup global fan base.
  • Nearly 50 percent of the ticketing demand is coming from the host country, Russia, with Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico and the United States making up the largest number of international requests.

To ensure fans have a seamless and secure payment experience when attending the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, Visa developed the following recommended travel tips that fans can take advantage of.

Know Before You Go to Russia

  • Notify your issuing bank or financial institution of anticipated travel plans, including use of Visa debit, credit or prepaid cards abroad to avoid any issues while processing transactions. Issuing banks can also provide information about travel-related benefits for Visa account holders, including opt-in mobile services, such as Mobile Location Confirmation through your bank’s mobile app or Visa’s Travel Authorization Tag.
  • Register for SMS notifications with your specific bank, or the bank’s transaction notification service, to track purchases made on your Visa accounts as you travel.
  • Set up automatic bill pay for any credit cards to give you some peace-of-mind that your account will be current while traveling abroad.
  • Make two copies of important travel documents, namely your passport, in case of emergency. Leave one copy with a friend or relative and carry the other separate from your original documents. You can also take a photo with your cellphone of important documents.

Travel Tips for Fans in Russia

  • When paying by card, pay in “local currency” for a competitive exchange rate.
  • Use a credit or debit card for purchases. Visa offers security, convenience and ease when paying abroad. It is safer than carrying cash.
  • Whenever possible, pay through a chip-activated terminal when using your credit or debit card for enhanced security.
  • Look for the Visa or PLUS logo at any point-of-sale terminal to ensure international payment cards are accepted.

As the Official Payment Service Partner of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, Visa will be celebrating the spirit of football in Russia and is looking forward to showcasing the future of digital payments with fans from all over the globe. For additional information on Visa’s sponsorship of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, visit www.visa.com.

Methodology

Visa International Travel (VISIT) platform is a proprietary model that combines Visa’s cardholder data with publicly-available cross-border arrival statistics. The database provides a comprehensive view into high-frequency cross-border travel flows, currently encompassing the top 82 origin and destination countries, which collectively account for more than 80 percent of global travel. VISIT combines unique counts of Visa cardholders that register a face-to-face transaction at a merchant outside their home country in a given calendar month with other transaction data such as average spend per cardholder, card usage patterns at lodging merchants and others. Visa uses this data to econometrically model official arrival statistics compiled by various government sources and to generate estimates that fill in the large gaps existing in the cross-border travel data.

About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network – enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and a driving force behind the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/aboutvisa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews.

1 Estimate based on the Visa International Travel (VISIT) platform, 2002-2014.

2 Visa International Travel (VISIT) platform, four-year average, 2014-2017.

3 VisaNet 2014.

4 See FIFA.com/tickets for more information about ticket sales for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™.

Contact:
Sheerin Salimi
shesalim@visa.com

Source: Visa Inc.

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CVS Health to provide Real-time benefit information to help eliminate potential dispensing delays and improve patient outcomes

WOONSOCKET, R.I., 2017-Nov-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) announced today (November 28, 2017) that its pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), CVS Caremark, will begin providing real-time visibility to member-specific medication costs and available lower-cost therapeutic alternatives at the point of prescribing and at the pharmacy. This enhanced visibility to the patient’s benefit across all points of care can help eliminate potential dispensing delays, improve patient outcomes through increased medication adherence and lower costs for members and payors.

“Patients often do not find out that the medication they were prescribed is not covered or has higher than expected out-of-pocket costs until they go to the pharmacy to pick up their prescription, which can result in patients not filling a prescription, non-adherence and, ultimately, higher downstream health care costs,” said Troyen A. Brennan, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of CVS Health. “Making detailed, real-time benefit information available for our PBM members and their health care team, whether it’s the doctor or the pharmacist, can help streamline the patient experience and improve health outcomes while also lowering costs for both the patient and the payor.”

Through visibility to “real-time benefits,” prescribers can see specific benefit information for patients supported by CVS Caremark integrated directly into their e-prescribing workflow. Even before they prescribe a drug, prescribers will be able to see the cost of the drug based on the patient’s coverage, including the patient’s remaining deductible, when applicable, and will be able to review up to five clinically appropriate branded alternatives or therapeutically equivalent generic medications specific to the patient’s formulary coverage. Prescribers will also have visibility to requirements, such as prior authorization or step therapy, enabling them to immediately submit an electronic prior authorization request. In addition, pharmacists at all retail pharmacies within the CVS Caremark network will have visibility to the same list of clinically appropriate formulary alternatives provided to the prescriber, and beginning in early 2018, CVS Caremark members will be able to find lower-cost alternatives within the Check Drug Cost tool on Caremark.com.

At CVS Pharmacy, this information will be integrated directly into the pharmacist’s existing workflow, making it easy for them to engage CVS Caremark members about potentially lower-cost alternatives, based on the members’ specific formulary coverage. CVS pharmacists will also be able to easily request a prescription change from the prescriber when needed with a simple one-step process. Beginning in early 2018, as part of the company’s ongoing, enterprise-wide focus on helping patients save money, CVS pharmacists will also be able to see the associated out-of-pocket costs for CVS Caremark members. This will help ensure alignment with the member’s plan design and enable them to access the lowest cost medications within their benefit. For those members for whom drug cost is still a concern, the CVS pharmacist will also be able to share additional cost savings opportunities such as prescription discounts, when available.

“Across the CVS Health enterprise, we are focused on providing patients with the most convenient access to affordable medications, and this innovation enables us to provide our PBM members and their health care providers with direct, easy access to real-time benefit information throughout the health care continuum whether they are at their physician’s office or at the pharmacy,” said Jonathan Roberts, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CVS Health. “No one else provides this level of member-specific actionable drug benefit information across so many points of care, which can help simplify and streamline the process of getting a patient on the most appropriate and affordable therapy and increase member engagement and satisfaction with their care.”

Medication cost can be a significant factor when a patient is deciding whether or not to fill a prescription. Yet, research shows that patients often feel they do not have adequate information about the use of formularies or the drugs covered by their plan. In addition, when required, the manual prior authorization process to gain necessary approvals for a specific drug from both the insurer and prescriber can be time-consuming for prescribers, patients and pharmacists. In fact, approximately 80 percent of physicians said manual prior authorization requests require extra work, rework and follow up, which can also delay the start of an important therapy or result in poor compliance. Altogether, this can result in medication non-adherence, which can lead to poor health outcomes and is estimated to cost the U.S. health care system nearly $300 billion each year.

Real-time benefit information is enabled through functionality from Surescripts and is available to any provider using an electronic health record system enabled with real-time benefits and electronic prior authorization. Real-time benefits further build on CVS Health’s use of electronic health records, to support MinuteClinic nurse practitioners and CVS Specialty’s care management programs.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com/.

Contacts:

Christine Cramer
CVS Health
(401) 770-3317
christine.cramer@cvshealth.com

Christina Beckerman
CVS Health
(401) 770-8868
christina.beckerman@cvshealth.com

SOURCE: CVS Health

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Apple stores to host Hour of Code workshops from December 4 through 10

Free Coding Sessions, New Swift Playgrounds Challenge and Teacher Resources Are Available for Everyone

Cupertino, California, 2017-Nov-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — Apple today (NOVEMBER 28, 2017) opened registration for thousands of free Hour of Code sessions available at all Apple Stores from December 4 through 10. The company also introduced a new educational challenge in Swift Playgrounds and added new teacher resources to the Everyone Can Code curriculum to help teach Swift, Apple’s easy-to-learn programming language that anyone can use to create world-class apps.

Today at Apple
For the fifth year, Apple Stores will participate in Hour of Code with daily coding sessions in celebration of Computer Science Education Week. Young aspiring coders can learn coding basics during a Kids Hour session, while those age twelve and above can use Swift Playgrounds on iPad to learn coding concepts and even program robots. A new Teacher Tuesdays session helps educators learn how to teach code to students using new resources and discussion topics.

Swift Playgrounds
A brand-new Hour of Code challenge in the Swift Playgrounds app invites students to build a digital robot and customize it with new parts including cyborg eyes and electric hula hoop arms. Swift Playgrounds is available as a free download in the App Store in 15 languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Japanese.

Teaching with iPad
Apple’s new Everyone Can Code curriculum includes a free Hour of Code guide featuring the new Swift Playgrounds challenge to make it easy to get started teaching code in schools, community centers and after-school programs. Schools can easily host their own one-hour Hour of Code event anytime simply by downloading the Swift Playgrounds app and Hour of Code guide.

Press Contacts:
Andy Bowman
Apple
abowman@apple.com
(408) 783-0619

Apple Media Helpline:
media.help@apple.com
(408) 974-2042

Source: Apple Inc.

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Kroger launches television and radio ads to boost awareness of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative

Kroger launches television and radio ads to boost awareness of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative

 

CINCINNATI, 2017-Nov-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today (Nov. 24, 2017) announced it has introduced television and radio ads in 191 media markets across the U.S. to increase awareness of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, established last September.

“Yesterday millions of families came together to enjoy Thanksgiving,” said Jessica Adelman, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs. “Kroger and our family of stores love being a part of America’s Thanksgiving celebrations. At the same time, we acknowledge the absurdity that one in eight people struggle with hunger while 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. each year goes to waste. That just doesn’t make sense to us. And this season, we are grateful for our associates and trusted partners who are committed to doing something about it.”

Zero Hunger | Zero Waste is aimed at ending hunger in the communities Kroger calls home and eliminating waste across its company by 2025. Across the U.S., 42 million Americans struggle with hunger. At the same time, an estimated 72 billion pounds of food ends up in a landfill every year.

Earlier this month, Kroger launched a strategic media campaign and introduced television and radio advertisements in key markets to boost its customers’ awareness and engagement with the initiative. The campaign will run through the holiday season supported by store-level customer giving programs benefiting local food banks and hunger-relief organizations and Kroger’s year-round, industry-leading, fresh food donations program.

“Our Purpose is to Feed the Human Spirit™ by uplifting each other, our customers and our communities. Kroger is inviting everyone who is passionate about feeding people and protecting the planet to join us in helping us realize our vision of Zero Hunger | Zero Waste,” Ms. Adelman added.

Kroger has partnered with Feeding America and World Wildlife Fund to achieve its vision, and is crowdsourcing for solutions and asking communities, partners and other stakeholders for ideas, feedback and best practices.

Follow the journey and join the conversation at thekrogerco.com and #ZeroHungerZeroWaste.

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co., we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed The Human SpiritTM.

SOURCE: The Kroger Co.

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Carrefour Belgium invites customers to bring their own bags and reusable boxes when shopping from traditional food counters

Carrefour Belgium invites customers to bring their own bags and reusable boxes when shopping from traditional food counters

 

Belgium, 2017-Nov-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — In an initiative to provide sustainable solutions and reduce the use of packaging, Carrefour Belgium is inviting Carrefour Hypermarket and Carrefour Market customers to bring their own bulk bags and reusable boxes to package their purchases from traditional food counters (butchery, fishmonger, delicatessen). At the same time, 16 stores will be testing reusable fabric bags for fruit and vegetables. Carrefour Belgium will launch the two initiatives this week in conjunction with European Week for Waste Reduction.

The original pilot project was launched at the Carrefour Hypermarket in Bierges (near Wavre) in early November. Now – scarcely two weeks later and following a surge of positive customer reaction – the test project has been rolled out to every food counter in the Carrefour Hypermarkets and Carrefour Markets operated by Carrefour Belgium.

The principle is simple and sustainable: customers bring their bulk bags or reusable boxes with them and use them to pack the products they buy from traditional food counters. The person serving them alters the scales so as to exclude the weight of the container and affixes a price label in the same way as they would to classic plastic packaging. It is obviously vital that customers provide only clean, dry boxes suitable for foodstuffs. If food safety cannot be guaranteed, a store employee may refuse to use the container in question. To prevent cross-contamination, different types of meat, cheese and/or processed meat will always be packed in different boxes.

Test: reusable fabric bags for fruit and vegetables

Monday 20 November sees the start of another test at the Carrefour hypermarket in Bierges, this time involving the use of sturdy reusable fabric bags for fruit and vegetables. The bags are washable, sufficiently robust to be reused a number of times and accept price labels easily. They will be sold at €2.40 for five, i.e. €0.60 per bag. A week later, the bags will be available in a further 15 test stores.

The two initiatives will begin this week, to coincide with European Week for Waste Reduction.

As you will remember, Carrefour launched reusable bags at its store checkouts in 2004, and these new test projects see Carrefour Belgium going above and beyond current statutory requirements. Carrefour also reviews the packaging of 800 to 1,000 products every year, assessing it particularly with regard to sustainability. These initiatives clearly show that the Belgian retailer intends to play a pioneering role in reducing packaging by providing its customers with sustainable, practical solutions.

For all request about the Carrefour Group (sales, financial results, governance, international,…), please contact the Carrefour Group media relations office:

. By phone:

Switchboard: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 00

For journalists: +33 (0)1 41 04 26 17

. By e-mail: presse_groupe@carrefour.com

Source: Carrefour Group

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NEW ZEALAND: Foodstuffs announces big reduction in sugar and sodium content across Pams and Value products

NEW ZEALAND: Foodstuffs announces big reduction in sugar and sodium content across Pams and Value products

 

Auckland, New Zealand, 2017-Nov-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — Foodstuffs revealed today (24 November 2017) that it has implemented a massive drop in sugar and sodium content across a wide range of Pams and Value products – ranging in some cases from a 26% reduction in sugar to an 80% reduction in sodium.

Chris Quin, CEO Foodstuffs North Island, says, “Foodstuffs has made huge strides in delivering on our commitment to reduce Childhood Obesity.  We have several programmes in place including our very effective Food for Thought nutrition education programme, but we’ve made spectacular headway in reformulating hundreds of our Pams and Value products to reduce sugar and sodium content.

“To date we have removed 4,000 tonnes of sugar and 8,000 tonnes of sodium across our private label range, this equates to 740 Asian elephants’ worth of sugar and 76,000 All Blacks worth of salt (based on their average weights).  That’s a staggering saving – all going towards ensuring our community has access to healthier foods.”

Foodstuffs has committed to reviewing and reformulating all private label products and is also encouraging suppliers to do the same.  “Our research shows that customers are looking for healthier options – and we’re working very hard to deliver on that expectation.  It’s a vast job to review each product across New Zealand’s largest grocery brands, but we are totally committed.”

The results form part of a report to the Ministry of Health later this year which captures all the initiatives Foodstuffs has put in place to enhance the health and well-being of the community.

Quin says, “Foodstuffs believes that we have a duty of care to look after every New Zealander. A core part of that promise is to ensure that all New Zealanders have ready access to fresh, affordable, healthy food.

“We are delivering on our pledge to support the Government in their drive to reduce childhood obesity; reducing sugar and sodium content in our products, expanding the reach of our Food for Thought Programme, extensive support for the Starship Foundation with a focus on healthy food education and partnerships with foodbanks throughout New Zealand. However, we’re committed to doing more.

“We have made a significant investment in the Eat My Lunch programme – which aims to deliver 25,000 healthy lunches, per week, to children in need throughout New Zealand.  This will ensure more children have full tummies so they can unlock their potential.

Foodstuffs is excited about the inroads we have made already and the plans in place to help New Zealanders enjoy a healthy future.”

Source: Foodstuffs

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