<p>By: Krystal Register, MS, RDN, LDN, Vice President, Health & Well-being, FMI</p><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/kr-at-nc-conference-2.tmb-large-350-.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=1b068add_1" style="float:right;margin:10px;" class="-align-right" alt="KR at NC conference 2" sf-size="100" /><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">The 2025 </span><a href="https://nourishingchange.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;white-space:inherit;">Nourishing Change Conference</a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"> brought leaders together from healthcare, academia, community, technology, innovation and the food industry to collectively reimagine how health is delivered in America. As host, Kroger Health delivered on their vision to bring cross-sector leaders together to move ideas into action and forge meaningful change. </span></p><div><p paraid="1098501583" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{44}">Overarching themes for future collaboration: </p></div><ul><li><p paraid="14396952" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{54}">Building the business case for health-centered retail. </p></li><li><p paraid="14396952" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{54}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Personalized support for health-seeking consumers on their journey. </span></p></li><li><p paraid="1983228601" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{82}">Focusing on health rather than healthcare, working upstream on prevention. </p></li><li><p paraid="1886730542" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{92}">Connecting food and pharmacy and public health. </p></li><li><p paraid="780414032" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{106}">Integrating health and wellness messaging across the grocery store. </p></li><li><p paraid="1566854159" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{120}">Leveraging data to merchandise health. </p></li></ul><div><h5 paraid="865424603" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{130}">The Movement: Health-Centered Retail </h5></div><div><p paraid="776577757" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{138}"><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/norishing-change-conference-group.tmb-large-350-.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=8f8c2e95_2" style="float:left;margin:10px;" class="-align-left" alt="mg-caption:Angie Nelson, SVP of Pharmacy at Hy-Vee, Jim Kirby, CCO at Kroger Health, Jackie Morse, Group VP of Pharmacy & Health at Meijer, Steven Jennings, Health and Sustainability Lead at Ahold Delhaize USA, and Stacy Bates, Director of Wellness Nutrition Strategy at H-E-B" sf-size="344319" />Notably, this conference was more than just an event, it was the beginning of a movement to build partnerships, drive innovation and take action. Many FMI members were actively engaged, learning from each other, collectively addressing complex issues, exploring innovative ideas and working together to truly spark a movement. </p><p paraid="776577757" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{138}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">One session on “The Future of Retail Health,” moderated by Jim Kirby, Chief Commercial Officer at Kroger Health, included leaders from Hy-Vee, Kroger Health, Meijer, Ahold Delhaize USA and H-E-B. </span></p></div><div><p paraid="1952377153" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{150}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Discussion from this panel of competitors fully supported the idea that when a food company has a fully integrated health and well-being team, consumers benefit. The retail pharmacist and/or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can function as the crucial connector between retail and health. </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span></p></div><div><p paraid="1442154261" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{208}" style="text-align:center;"><strong><em>FOOD (grocery business) combined with HEALTH (healthcare services) = CARE.</em></strong> </p></div><div><p paraid="651698204" paraeid="{0a15d40c-f357-44ca-8d76-90e968c121e7}{224}">Pharmacists and RDNs working together drive trust and loyalty. Pharmacists are a valuable touchpoint for so many consumers on a regular basis. RDNs provide guidance and solutions, creating repeatable behavior change and improved overall health. The grocery store is a destination for health and well-being, with powerful potential to gain momentum in caring for people and communities.</p></div><div><h5 paraid="1686331738" paraeid="{6ae4796b-bc3f-4d80-b78f-8bdb3fd2498a}{1}">Driving Better Choices </h5></div><div><p paraid="82893184" paraeid="{6ae4796b-bc3f-4d80-b78f-8bdb3fd2498a}{7}"><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/norishing-change-conference-(2).tmb-medium.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=ebd49bdb_3" style="float:right;margin:10px;" class="-align-right" alt="KR at NC conference" sf-size="104690" />As a panelist in a session titled “The Impact of Consumer Shopping Tool on Driving Better Choices,” it was my pleasure to discuss the many ways food retailers and suppliers work to positively impact food purchasing decisions to support and nurture healthy habits with tools to personalize the shopping, cooking and eating experience. From our recent <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends</a> report, we know that consumers aspire to “eat well” and their aspirations drive personalized investments in health, entertainment, exploration and convenience. “Eating well” is also closely intertwined with cooking meals at home. Food retailers are uniquely positioned to provide nutrition guidance to customers right where they purchase food and medications. </p><h5 paraid="82893184" paraeid="{6ae4796b-bc3f-4d80-b78f-8bdb3fd2498a}{7}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Cross-Sector Collaboration </span></h5></div><div><p paraid="1839381411" paraeid="{6ae4796b-bc3f-4d80-b78f-8bdb3fd2498a}{84}">We gathered together, challenged each other and encouraged each other. Now, it is time to keep the conversations going and move ideas to action. FMI looks forward to working together to nourish change. We will remain grounded in solution-oriented conversations. The movement has launched, the opportunity is bright, the collaboration is contagious, the purpose is bold and the possibilities are incredibly inspiring. </p></div><div><p paraid="1012538142" paraeid="{6ae4796b-bc3f-4d80-b78f-8bdb3fd2498a}{114}"><a href="https://nourishingchange.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="button">Nourishing Change Conference</a> </p></div>
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