Bartell Drugs makes big bet on fresh foods

SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs is placing an emphasis on fresh foods, with nearly a dozen stores slated to receive its “Fresh Food Fast” assortments of salads, prepared foods and sandwiches, with plans to expand into other store locations this year.

These fresh food selections include Mel’s Market, Zoe’s Meats, Ellenos Yogurt, Daphne’s Creamery, Columbus Craft Meats and Tillamook.

Healthy snacks aisles have also already been launched in 23 stores, with further expansion coming later this year. This aisles feature variety of bars and other snacks from local company Zing, as well as nationally known purveyors such as Clif Bars, thinkThin, Power Bar, KIND, Quest Nutrition and MusclePharm.

As for why Bartell Drugs is making a bug push into fresh foods, the company stated healthy eating trends have “dominated with millennials opting toward foods that are locally made, freshly prepared and quickly accessible in well-marked display areas.”

Global sales of healthy food products are expected to reach $1 trillion this year, according to consumer research firm Euromonitor.