Health & Wellness is no longer a niche category. It’s a mainstream one that draws a significant share of shoppers. 
Consider this:
• A staggering 99% of U.S. households made a natural and organic purchase in the past year, according to SPINS.
• Sales for a wide variety of Health & Wellness products and foods have had significant year-over-year growth rates higher than industry averages.
• Nearly one in three consumers say they are paying greater attention to healthy foods, up from one in four before the pandemic began, according to the International Food Information Council.
• Consumers are showing greater interest in household cleaners, personal care and cosmetics that do not contain harmful ingredients.
• Several surveys show that shoppers want to be able to purchase a variety of Health & Wellness products at their local grocery store.
An important first step toward capturing a greater share of the increased demand for Health & Wellness products is integrating natural, organic, ‘functional’ and other healthy food and non-food options throughout your store. By that, we mean offering plant-based milk in the dairy section, veggie burgers in the meat section, natural cleaners in the cleaning products aisle, and so on.
You might think that a separate health and wellness department goes against that philosophy of integration. It doesn’t. Rather, it’s a critical next step that can help your grocery business remain relevant and competitive. It allows your store(s) to offer additional products and brands that shoppers might otherwise not buy — or that they purchase online. Offering products like vitamins & minerals, fish oils, lotions, supplements, etc, demonstrate your store’s commitment to health and wellness. And it provides an environment where shoppers can discover new products and/or find thoughtful gifts.
Our Store Design + Equipment team can help you create or enhance a Health & Wellness department in your store. Elements can be ordered individually or as a set. We have ready-to-install and customized options for stores of every size and budget.
Whether you have a vision or aren’t sure what would work best in your store, we’re here to help. It’s one of many solutions UNFI Professional Services offers to help your store(s) succeed.
Want to learn more? Watch this video and e-mail us at [email protected].
