ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Wegmans Food Markets is joining other retailers in reviewing their labels for store-prepared items as consumers grow increasingly conscious of what they're eating.
The independent operator has installed new signs in the prepared-foods department, giving shoppers calorie count and other nutritional information for several popular items.
The effort is aimed at weight watchers who may have avoided fresh meals and entrees out of concern for unknown calorie counts, according to the company's Web site. The signs, dubbed "Calories at a Glance," are displayed at the departments' pizza, salad, sandwiches, service salads, soup, subs, sushi and wokery areas.
In February, the company began posting nutrition information on various items in the prepared-foods department on wegmans.com.
In her weekly column on the Web site, Mary Ellen Burris, senior vice president of consumer affairs, stated the signs are limited to top-selling items right now. New signs will appear on a regular basis -- in May, September and February -- to correspond to the seasonal nutrition facts updates for various prepared-food items posted on the Web site.
"Certainly they're easy to read and available for customers," said Jim Frackenpohl, a partner with Rochester-based Retail Food Design, who noticed the colorful signs, measuring about 8 1/2-by-11 inches.