inStorebuyer - May 2011 - 94

health&nutrition
HIGHLIGHTS ON HEALTHY LIVING

Sm thies:
N U T R I T I O U S + D E L I C I O U S
Spring has sprung! And that means fresh, fruity flavors are taking over as the number one craving. Not only does fruit pair perfectly with the warmer weather, it also exudes a healthy quality—and that’s important to many people going into “swimsuit season.” According to What’s in Store 2011, the top method consumers are using to reach their healthy goals is eating more fruits and vegetables, with 84 percent of respondents choosing that option over cutting back on junk, snack and fried foods, and eating more whole grains and fiber. So this year, instead of just incorporating more fruits into your instore’s pastries for spring and summer, why not start up a smoothie program? When you first introduce madeto-order smoothies into your instore, you may want to use a mix to keep it simple and test out their popularity. If the smoothies take off among your store’s clientele, then you can put a little bit more into the program. For instance, you can make the switch to all-natural smoothies using fresh and frozen fruit, and incorporate more “buzz-word” ingredients such as green tea and yogurt. And yogurt is a strong ingredient with which to pair. U.S. yogurt sales grew 6.2 percent last year to more than $4.8 billion, and that number is expected to double within the next four years according to What’s in Store 2011. So yogurt and fruit are clearly powerhouse partners. And finally, keep in mind that your smoothie program will most likely experience the most success if you allow customers to purchase them on the spot and drink them while they shop. Health-conscious consumers know it is not smart to grocery shop on an empty stomach, so they will be eager to pick up a healthy treat to quell their rumbling bellies before heading up and down the aisles.
ANNA COMSTOCK

Don’t Forget Your Veggies!
While fruit smoothies are the best-known variety, vegetables can also be a valuable smoothie ingredient. Jamba Juice, a well-known smoothie company, recently debuted a fruit and vegetable smoothie line that contains three flavors—Berry UpBEET, Apple ‘n Greens and Orange Carrot Karma. A blend of berries and vegetable juices, Berry UpBEET combines the flavors of strawberries and blueberries with the juices from carrots, beets, broccoli and lettuce. Apple ‘n Greens blends apple-strawberry juice with the juice from dark leafy green vegetables, carrots and lettuce, and adds spirulina, peaches, mangos and bananas. And Orange Carrot Karma is a simple blend of carrot juice, orange juice, mangos, bananas and ice. Each 16 oz serving of Jamba Juice’s fruit and vegetable smoothies contains less than 250 calories and provides three full servings of fruits and vegetables, which is a big selling point with today’s consumers.
| 94 | inStorebuyer | May 2011 |

inStorebuyer - May 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of inStorebuyer - May 2011