supermarket PERIMETER - May 2021 - 9

I

n the food world, there are few concepts more important than
that of health. Whether they follow through with it or not,
Americans consistently say they want to eat more healthfully,
seeing food as medicine and a key component of their overall
wellness.
Given our technology-obsessed culture, there's no better way for
retailers and others all along the supply chain to deliver the health
marketing and education consumers are craving than through phones,
tablets, computers, instore screens and kiosks and other devices.
And with COVID, the interest in health and the reliance on technology
has never been more important, in all aspects of life, creating a huge
opportunity for retailers to learn from this moment to deliver relevant
health information to their customers via technology.
As the lines between the digital and physical world continue to blur,
digital enhancements to the instore experience, particularly within
fresh perimeter departments, are vital to delivering health and other
information, said Andrew Moberly, director of category solutions for
Stamford, Conn.-based Daymon.
" Consumers are turning to online channels for their shopping needs,
with more than 8 in 10 consumers planning to make the same amount
or more online purchases of food and nonfood
products in the future, " Moberly said. " Developing
an omnichannel approach is crucial to simplifying
the shopping experience, and in turn, developing
loyalty for your banner through your private brand
programs. "
To deliver on health-related and other expectations,
consumers must develop a true omnichannel
experience, be it through enhanced mobile app
functionality, digitally integrated merchandising, or
new shopping experiences that facilitate meal planning in and out of
the store, he added.
And as immunity boosting and claims like " fortified with vitamins and
minerals " became some of the top purchasing drivers within the last year,
retailers can support shoppers' needs by incorporating technology such
as instore QR codes to show nutritional content and benefit callouts.
" Technology is being embraced perhaps unlike any other time in
our lifetime, with a higher acceptance rate from both retailers and
shoppers, " Moberly said. " Many of the advances seem to be addressing
shoppers' needs to make more informed decisions on what they
purchase. "

COVID, as more people are eating at home and getting meat from their
grocery store. "
The new slicer can also keep up with increased demand, keeping the
deli line moving twice as fast as some other, older slicers.
Cleaning and sanitation have always been important to Hobart, Pettit
said. Hobart equipment features several features that make it easy to
clean. The Portion Scale Slicers, for example, have a tilt and removable
carriage and removable knife, knife cover and ring guard.
" These features make it easy for the operator to get in the crevices of
the slicer and thoroughly clean each part. "
Hobart is constantly working to improve and refine its technologies,
Pettit said. A cornerstone of any health-centered program is food safety,
which has become even more important with COVID, she added.
" People going into grocery stores want to feel comfortable and safe.
It's important for us to support retailers in the food safety aspect. "

Soaring demand, new tools
There can be no doubt: Shoppers are more actively seeking nutritional
and production information online, which is creating an opportunity for
retail to embrace technology platforms that support shoppers' health
and wellness goals.
Some recent initiatives cited by Moberly include
Carrefour France launching personalized nutritional
scores, and Schwarz Group Kaufland expanding the
Nutri-Score system to more Private Brands.
Transparency also continues to be a growing need
for shoppers in food safety, but also understanding the
impact of the purchases they make, he added.
" We are seeing technologies like time temperature
indicators that identify if the cold chain was broken.
These labels quantify breaks in the cold chain, by measuring both the
time out of temp and the temperature reached to recalibrate the shelf
life of the product. "
Not only do such products indicate freshness, they can also tell the
consumer when the product is at higher risk for foodborne illness.
Another way technology is embracing transparency is through apps
that measure the sustainability of products and rate their environmental
footprint. Other technologies, like indoor/vertical farming, are not new,
but they're becoming more viable as commercial solutions that can
make a positive impact on sustainability challenges like food miles and
water waste, Moberly said.
COVID has elevated the importance of maintaining a nutritious and
healthy lifestyle, with 77% of consumers looking to live a healthier life
post-pandemic, Moberly said.
During the pandemic, shoppers transitioned from their on-the-go
lifestyles to preparing and consuming almost all their meals at home.
They relied much more on perimeter and other grocery departments
for products that delivered key immunity boosting and better-for-you
ingredients, with more than one-third of adults saying they're more
concerned about their immune system health now than they were prior
to the pandemic. 
Additionally, Moberly said, with the shift towards healthier lifestyles,
affinity for plant-based foods became a key focus, with 40% of
consumers trying to eat more plant-based foods. 

40%

of consumers are
trying to eat more
plant-based foods. 

Equipment's role

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High-tech equipment and employee health go hand-in-hand for Troy,
Ohio-based Hobart Food Equipment Group, said Megan Pettit, food
machines marketing specialist.
The most recent addition to the Hobart line for the grocery perimeter
is the Portion Scale Slicer, which delivers on a key component of health:
food safety. The unit features an easy-to-use interface and integrated
scale. The operator just plugs in how much meat or cheese needs to be
sliced, and once that amount is achieved, the slicer will stop on its own.
" It eliminates trips back and forth between the slicer and an external
scale, " Pettit said. " It also means the employee can help other people in
the line or work on another task. The slicer is especially helpful during

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