CVS bulks up in-store assortment of frozen food, snacks

CVS Pharmacy is launching expanded selections of more than 100 frozen foods, with a focus on meal planning, and over 140 better-for-you snacks.

Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS said Tuesday that selected stores across the country now carry an enlarged frozen assortment, including brands such as Beyond Meat, Bird’s Eye, Ore-Ida and Amy’s Kitchen. The added food choices are aimed at meeting various dietary preferences — including gluten-free, certified organic and vegan — in helping customers easily assemble a balanced meal, such as plant-based protein options from Beyond Meat as a base and rice, frozen vegetables and beverages rounding it out. 

A range of fresh prepared foods and other refrigerated options also are available in selected stores for shoppers seeking grab-and-go meals, CVS said. 

The drug chain noted that 50 of the frozen product additions are new to its shelves. They include Beyond Meat’s Beyond Burger and Beyond Meatballs, Bird’s Eye Sweet Cut Corn and Steamfresh Frozen Broccoli Florets, Healthy Choice Spicy Black Bean & Chicken Bowl and Basil Pesto Chicken Bowl, Amy’s Kitchen Three Cheese and Kale Bake Bowl, Jimmy Dean’s Meat Lovers Breakfast Bowl and Red Baron Pizza. 

Beyond Meat's Beyond Burger and Beyond Meatballs are among the new frozen meal offerings at CVS.

More than half of CVS’s nearly 250-item food product expansion focuses on healthier snacks and new flavor combinations, including popular national and niche brands. That includes organic, plant-based and no added sugar options; meat and cheese snacks; and grab-and-go bars to help fuel daily activities, especially for afternoon cravings, the retailer said. 

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Sixty of the snack additions are making their debut at CVS, including LesserEvil Organic No Cheese Cheesiness Popcorn, Solely Organic Pineapple Fruit Jerky, Quinn Paleo Friendly Grain Free Pretzel Chips, Bobo’s Lemon Poppyseed Oat Bar, Beanitos Hint of Lime White Bean Chips, Krave Sonoma Style BBQ Zero Sugar Jerky, Quest Loaded Taco Tortilla Style Protein Chips, SkinnyDipped Lemon Bliss Almonds, Ketologic Pizza Keto Crisps and SkinnyPop Hint of Vanilla Kettle Corn. 

The food expansion continues efforts by CVS in recent years to boost its in-store consumables offering, led by healthier fare, and reflects increased consumer predilections for convenience as well as changes in eating habits brought by the COVID-19 crisis.

According to a Harris Poll online survey conducted last month for CVS, 74% of more than 2,000 U.S. adults said their meal and/or snack habits shifted during the pandemic. Compared with pre-pandemic behavior, 67% of respondents who snack reported snacking at home more now, while 52% are buying better-for-you snacks and meal solutions.  

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Selected food and grocery items also can be purchased via CVS.com and delivered through Instacart, DoorDash and Shipt, CVS added. Last June, CVS made more than 3,000 food, grocery, nonfood and non-prescription products available for purchase and delivery via the DoorDash website or mobile app.

Overall, CVS Pharmacy operates nearly 10,000 retail locations, including more than 1,700 pharmacies inside Target and Schnuck Markets stores.