Harris Teeter scores with wellness initiative

MATTHEWS, N.C. A nutritionally oriented wellness program from regional supermarket chain Harris Teeter is scoring points with consumers and health advocates, according to the company and a report in The Packer, a news resource for the fruit and vegetable industry.

Harris Teeter is mining a rich vein of consumer demand with its Your Wellness for Life program, launched in January. Following the rollout, which includes a 15-week meal plan for healthy eating as well as exercise and stress management programs, the North Carolina-based supermarket and pharmacy chain quickly caught on with customers in its six-state market area in the Southeast.

“The ‘Your Wellness for Life’ program is a life enhancement program, not simply a weight management program, though aspects of it can be used to help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight,” the company explains.

Harris Teeter partnered with Russ Greenfield, M.D., to create the program, including the meal plan and other guides to healthy living. Greenfield was honored as the inaugural recipient of The Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching, and co-authored Healthy Child, Whole Child (HarperCollins 2001), which was named Best Parenting Guide 2001 by the editors at Amazon.com.