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NAMAs Roni Moore Checks In With Health And Wellness Initiatives

Roni Moore Presenting by conference call, National Automatic Merchandising Association vice-president of public relations Roni Moore provided a health and wellness update during this year's BLAST. She brought participants up to speed on NAMA's Fit Pick program, the International Food Information Council's 2017 Food and Health Survey and a snapshot of a new initiative in development with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. According to Moore, Fit Pick growth, marked by larger-scale commitment...

October 22, 2017

Roni Moore

Presenting by conference call, National Automatic Merchandising Association vice-president of public relations Roni Moore provided a health and wellness update during this year's BLAST. She brought participants up to speed on NAMA's Fit Pick program, the International Food Information Council's 2017 Food and Health Survey and a snapshot of a new initiative in development with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

According to Moore, Fit Pick growth, marked by larger-scale commitments by blind vendors from Illinois and Connecticut, demonstrate that the program is an effective way for operators to communicate important nutrition information to consumers at the point of purchase.

New tools, featured on the program website, include two videos. The first, "NAMA's Nutrition Story," is designed to showcase the industry's commitment to health and wellness. It's geared towards elected officials, media and other influencers.

"Fit Pick 101" is a video vignette targeted to operators just getting started in the program. The one-minute piece provides a snapshot of the four steps required to initiate Fit Pick. The cornerstone of both videos is the key message that "Together, we can all be part of the nutrition solution."

Moore shared 10 highlights of the 2017 Food and Health Survey from the International Food Information Council. Among the findings are that consumers define "healthy" food as primarily food with certain nutrients or "free from" artificial ingredients, preservatives or additives. Additionally, when it comes to what Americans eat and why, considerations go far beyond factors that traditionally drove purchases, including taste, price and convenience. How food is produced, where it comes from and perceived corporate values have a big impact on food decisions.

She said NAMA is beefing up its involvement with the association's 10-year partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. "Our efforts in health and nutrition are greatly amplified by our partnership with the Alliance," she remarked. "Moving forward, we're working to identify more meaningful, effective ways to collaborate, which may include new delivery arenas – like Amazon – where Fit Pick will have a presence. While the details are yet to be determined, we need to think 'out of the box' relative to our efforts and broader program recognition and visibility."

NAMA and the Alliance are also exploring the potential to provide "better for you" snacks in out-of-school and after-school environments to serve children in vulnerable communities, Moore added.

In closing, Moore congratulated blind vendors for their continued participation in health and wellness initiatives. "It has been said, 'a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way,' with thanks to you, for your leadership in this area and your adoption of Fit Pick, which has measurable benefits for the industry overall," she said.