LUBBOCK, Texas — United Supermarkets will host an expo called “Healthy New You” at its 10 Market Street locations in north and west Texas on Jan. 15 and 16.
The expo, which is designed to educate shoppers on the use of the NuVal Nutritional System that recently rolled out to all 50 United locations, is one of several hosted by United in the past year.
Such events have proved to be solid traffic drivers for the stores. Previous expos held last year were: We Do I Do’s Expo, a wedding celebration theme; International Food Expo; Best of Texas Expo, highlighting local Texas foods and Entertaining Made Easy Expo, geared toward holiday celebrations.
“We've seen an overall traffic increase of about 5%; sales results have been mixed — we booked weddings from the first expo all summer long, and our Best of Texas Expo in the summer saw a 5%-6% increase in sales. We expect to see improved results this year, but the real purpose of the events is to engage, educate, entertain our guests, and offer them solutions to their shopping needs," said Wes Jackson, United’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer.
United will continue running such expos throughout the year, said United spokesman Eddie Owens.
Each store department offers samplings during the two-day events. During “Healthy New You,” shoppers can sample foods and beverages such as Full Circle Sockeye Salmon and Cod fillets, POM juice, Acai smoothies; Garden of Life Coconut Oil; Stash Green Tea, as well as wine tastings by Market Street sommeliers.
United gives the expos heavy promotional support through traditional and social media and in-store signage. The “Healthy New You” expo, which will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will serve as a forum for helping guests choose nutritious foods that work for their diets and lifestyles.
Trained Market Street team members will offer complimentary food samples, coupons, recipe cards, preparation tips and nutrition information as well answer questions about the NuVal system at designated stations throughout store.
Additionally, pharmacists will provide blood pressure and cholesterol screenings at no charge.
United became the first grocer in Texas to implement the NuVal system, which ranks foods on a scale of one to 100 based on a variety of nutrition factors, introducing it in 14 stores last March. All products in the initial 14 stores are tagged under the system. The remainder of United stores are in the process of tagging products under the system, said Owens.
Shoppers wanting to learn more about making the NuVal system work for them can visit the “NuVal Champion” station at their Market Street’s “Healthy New You” Expo, or pick up a complimentary copy of the recently-published Eat Well Live Well, co-authored by Tyra M. Carter, United corporate dietitian and James Fry, Texas Tech Physicians’ certified diabetes instructor. Each store will give away 1,000 copies of the book.