Bi-Lo Augments 'thrive!' Nutrition Tags

To assist its shoppers in making healthier food choices, Bi-Lo is introducing three more nutritional tags that promote the USDA’s recently rolled-out MyPlate initiative, which features a plate icon instead of the familiar food pyramid to illustrate for Americans the recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and dairy they should consume.

Introduced three months ago, the grocer’s in-store nutrition tags call attention to the healthy attributes of a broad variety of foods: sensible carbs, heart-healthy, organic, a good source of vitamin C and vtamin A, gluten-free, whole grain, a good source of fiber, low in saturated fat, a good source of calcium, or low in sodium. The latest labels highlight good-for-you meats and seafood as lean, extra lean and containing omega-3.

“The nutrition tags help me navigate my way through the store as I shop for gluten-free products,” Tennessee Bi-Lo customer Samantha Simpson posted on the company’s Facebook page.“Because I have to shop for specific foods, I rely on the Bi-Lo nutrition tags to point me in the right direction. It makes my shopping so much easier!”

Bi-Lo’s "thrive!" program, under which the tags were introduced, helps teach shoppers how to make healthy, economical choices both in the store and at home. The program additionally offers recipes, dietary tips, videos, and an exclusive newsletter available in print and online, among other features.

“Bi-Lo consistently works to bring shoppers savings without sacrifice in all things that matter when shopping -- including price, freshness, quality and healthy-food options,” noted Kip Faulhaber, VP of sales and advertising at Mauldin, S.C.-based Bi-Lo, which operates 207 supermarkets in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, employing around 15,100 associates. “The USDA’s MyPlate program helps remind consumers to think carefully about their food choices, and the three additional nutrition tags found throughout all Bi-Lo stores support our goals in offering customers practical ways to lead healthier lives.”