Nutrition Rating System Helps Busy Shoppers Easily Identify Healthier Foods
Guiding Stars, the world’s first store-wide nutrition navigation system today announces a partnership with BaySide Shop ‘n Save Supermarket in Milbridge, ME, 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.
“The Guiding Stars program was developed out of consumer demand for a simpler approach to nutrition choices and has proven successful in impacting purchasing decisions,” said John Eldredge, director of brand & business development at Guiding Stars Licensing Company. “We are pleased to partner with Bayside Shop ‘n Save Supermarket and be a part of their ongoing commitment to their 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’re thrilled to partner with Guiding Stars to enhance the shopping experience for our customers,” said Leola Carter of BaySide Shop ‘n Save Supermarket. “We chose Guiding Stars because we feel the program helps take the guesswork out of nutritious shopping – making it easy, practical and fun.”
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 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 in April.
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 up and down the East Coast including 1,177 Food Lion Stores in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, 167 Hannaford locations in the Northeast and 108 Sweetbay stores in central and western Florida. The program is supported by a 15-person team with significant licensing, marketing, food retail, IT and customer service experience.
About BaySide Shop ‘n Save Supermarket
BaySide Shop ‘n Save Supermarket has been owned and operated by Leola Carter, of Cherryfield, Maine since 1998. In 2007 the supermarket moved from its original 5,000 square foot location to a brand new 18,000 square foot building just a few feet down the road. Leola Carter is the great granddaughter of O.P. Gay who started a market in Milbridge in 1929.