Sponsored By

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

Almost half of 250-item product expansion includes brand-new offerings

Russell Redman

April 13, 2021

2 Min Read
CVS_Pharmacy-food_shopper.png
CVS said the additions include 50 frozen food and 60 snack items completely new to its aisles.CVS Pharmacy

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. 

CVS_Pharmacy-frozen_food-snacks-expansion-April2021.jpg

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. 

Related:Target stores get COVID-19 vaccines via CVS pharmacies

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.  

Related:Neela Montgomery takes reins as new CVS Pharmacy president

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.

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

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like