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Raley’s flags sugar content in pasta sauce

Enhanced shelf tags help shoppers find better-for-you products

Russell Redman

September 27, 2019

2 Min Read
Raleys Nevada store remodel - Copy.jpg
Raley's

As part of ongoing efforts to promote product transparency, Raley’s is spotlighting pasta sauces with excessive and minimal added sugar via enhanced shelf tags.

New educational signage and tags, posted during a refresh of the pasta sauce aisle, highlight products with less than 5% or more than 25% of total calories coming from added sugar, Raley’s said yesterday.

The West Sacramento, Calif.-based supermarket chain noted that about two-thirds of its better-for-you pasta sauce brand selection offers 5% or fewer calories from added sugar. More than 50 products also can receive a special “No Added Sugar” tag under the retailer’s recently expanded Shelf Guide program.

Raleys added sugar tags_pasta sauce.jpg

Given positive results, Raley’s plans to expand its sugar awareness campaign to other categories.

“Raley’s is helping customers navigate their personal health journeys by continuing to increase transparency around added sugar in different categories throughout our stores,” Yvette Waters, nutrition strategist and brand influencer at Raley’s, said in a statement. “We know these types of changes to the aisles can help customers make more informed decisions at the shelves and influence purchase choices.”

Raley’s focus on sugar content reflects the grocer’s brand positioning to help shoppers make more informed and healthier food choices. In recent years, the retailer has discontinued production of store-brand soda with high-fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors; eliminated private-label cereal with more than 25% added sugar; moved cold cereal with 25% or more of added sugar to the bottom shelf; and pulled conventional candy from the checkout lanes, reducing the overall sugar offerings by 25%.

Related:Raley’s raises product transparency with expanded Shelf Guide

This year, Raley’s also boosted ingredient transparency in relaunching its private label and made all of its store-brand chicken antibiotic-free, with packaging in 100% recyclable trays. In addition, the chain expanded its two-year-old Shelf Guide to 23 icons for health-related attributes, including for new nonfood categories.

In stores, shoppers can see up to nine attributes on a product’s shelf tag. Online customers also can use the Shelf Guide icons as filters to drill down to products that match their dietary needs and lifestyle preferences. More than two-thirds of center-store items have at least one icon.

Raley’s operates 129 stores in California and Nevada under the Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods, Food Source and Market 5-ONE-5 banners.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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