Giant Food Looks to Expand Employee Weight Loss Challenge

JESSICA ASSIMON

CARLISLE, Pa. — Giant Food may expand a pilot weight loss program run for employees at select stores, Tracy Pawelski, a spokeswoman for the chain told SN.

In a 12-week span, 95 employees at three Giant Food stores in Willow Grove, Pa., and at corporate headquarters here lost 1,000 pounds in the company’s first weight loss challenge.

After associates asked Giant’s nutritionists for help losing weight, its health and wellness team created the Giant Loser program, said Pawelski. Associates paid $5 to enter the Giant Loser pool. The associate who overall lost the highest percentage of weight won the pool of over $600. Other rewards included gift cards for the male and female who had the highest percent weight loss, the highest percent of body fat lost and the most pounds lost.

Each associate received a nutrition plan and attended classes on nutrition, portion control and exercise from Giant Food’s in-store nutritionist, Mary Beth Moylan.

Other supermarket chains, such as Hy-Vee, Safeway and Wegmans, have run weight loss challenges for their employees.

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