Nutrition Navigation System Helps Busy Shoppers Easily Identify Healthier Foods
Guiding Stars, the world’s first store-wide nutrition navigation system, today announces a partnership with Garden Street Market in Kennebunk, Maine to launch the good-better-best nutrition rating system in the store.
With Guiding Stars, each item throughout the grocery store receives a zero-to-three star rating according to its nutritional value, offering busy shoppers a simple, at-a-glance tool that helps them quickly identify foods that offer the most nutrition for the calories.
“Guiding Stars is the first and only storewide nutrition navigation system with proven results in influencing consumers to make healthier, more nutritious food choices while shopping,” said John Eldredge, director of brand and business development at Guiding Stars Licensing Company. “We are pleased to partner with Garden Street Market and be a part of its ongoing commitment to its shoppers.”
Guiding Stars utilizes a proprietary algorithm that is grounded in evidence-based science and the most current guidelines and recommendations of leading national and international health organizations, such as the FDA and USDA. The system credits all edible foods based on the presence of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and whole grains, and debits for the presence of trans fat, saturated fats, cholesterol, added sugars and added sodium. Food items are then awarded zero, one, two or three stars – one star means good nutritional value; two stars, better nutritional value; and three stars, the best nutritional value.
“We are excited to partner with Guiding Stars and offer our customers an easy and simple approach to healthy shopping,” said Dan Bowen, owner of Garden Street Market. “We chose Guiding Stars because it will not only impact the health and well-being of our shoppers, but the entire community, as well.”
The Guiding Stars system was the first of its kind when implemented in select grocery stores in September 2006 in response to consumer demand for a simple, easy-to-understand tool for making good nutritional choices as they shop. The Guiding Stars program is now on shelf tags and signage in grocery stores throughout the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Florida, and it has also recently launched the first nutrition navigation system in a public school in MSAD 75 in Topsham, Maine, and Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire.
About Guiding Stars Licensing Co.
Since 2006, Guiding Stars has been leading the way in helping consumers make nutritious choices by pioneering the first-ever storewide nutrition navigation system. The Guiding Stars program is a simple, easy-to-understand tool for making good nutritional choices and is designed to make a positive and lasting impact on public health. Guiding Stars Licensing Co., based in Scarborough, Maine, creates opportunities for supermarkets, manufacturers, food service providers and other organizations to license the program and make nutritious shopping simple throughout the United States. Guiding Stars is currently in more than 1,400 supermarkets in the East Coast including Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweetbay stores.
About Garden Street Market
Garden Street Market is a full service supermarket carrying specialty products as well as Hannaford brand products. The market also offers high quality produce, meat and deli-bakery departments, complimented by its extensive wine and liquor variety. The store prides itself on supporting its community and outstanding customer service. The market provides direct financial support for many local organizations and events, holds in-store fundraisers and participates in local activities. Garden Street Market was purchased by the Bowen family in 1996 and is located in downtown Kennebunk, Maine.