News: Gluten-free Grocery Shopping Gets Easier at SuperValu
Exciting news!
If you live in the US, there’s a good chance that you shop at a grocery store run by SuperValu.
This, in and of itself, is not so exciting, I know. But…
Over the next three months, SuperValu stores will roll out a program designed to make gluten-free grocery shopping much easier. According to the press release, the gluten-free shopping program includes:
- Signage and merchandizing solutions (in some stores)
- Gluten-free shopping lists available in-store
- On-site personnel to answer gluten-free questions
- Additional info on the web
This is good news for two big reasons. First and foremost, it should make gluten-free grocery shopping easier. Less time spent combing the aisles for the right soup mix means more time eating soup, after all.
Second, it raises awareness about the gluten-free diet. There are still plenty of people who have never heard the words “gluten” or “celiac” – but with increased signage, this number will drop. Hopefully, this will have a trickle-down effect and make other aspects of gluten-free daily life – like going out to eat – a little easier, in time.
If, like me, you’ve never heard of SuperValu before, you might recognize one or more of their brands from your local area:
- Acme®
- Albertsons®
- Cub Foods®
- Farm Fresh®
- Hornbacher’s®
- Jewel-Osco®
- Shaw’s/Star Market™
- Shoppers Food & Pharmacy®
How are your experiences with gluten-free grocery shopping? Do your local stores do a good job of calling out gluten-free groceries, and will this news change your shopping habits at all?
My local Schnucks does a nice job of this, too. They actually have a committee of gluten-free customers that advises their efforts. At the little store near me there are gluten-free products with their regular counterparts so I can pick up pizza crust mix or brownie mix easily. These are labeled gluten-free on the shelf price tag. Actually, I used the same shelf labeling and found out a nice but inexpensive brand of alfredo sauce is gluten-free.
They only use the shelf labeling with products that say gluten-free somewhere on the packaging, though, so there are still times in which I must read ingredient lists. It is a great improvement, though, and I applaud Schnucks for it. In their larger locations they have a little gluten-free section.
My local Schnucks does a nice job of this, too. They actually have a committee of gluten-free customers that advises their efforts. At the little store near me there are gluten-free products with their regular counterparts so I can pick up pizza crust mix or brownie mix easily. These are labeled gluten-free on the shelf price tag. Actually, I used the same shelf labeling and found out a nice but inexpensive brand of alfredo sauce is gluten-free.
They only use the shelf labeling with products that say gluten-free somewhere on the packaging, though, so there are still times in which I must read ingredient lists. It is a great improvement, though, and I applaud Schnucks for it. In their larger locations they have a little gluten-free section.
That is fantastic news! I appreciate the update because the mother of a dear friend of mine has been following a gluten-free diet. I will be sure to share the information.
That is fantastic news! I appreciate the update because the mother of a dear friend of mine has been following a gluten-free diet. I will be sure to share the information.