Dive Brief:
- Earth Fare announced this week it has onboarded its first in-house nutritionist, Rosanna Maffei.
- Maffei will consult with the specialty grocer’s staff and vendor partners to create recipes and grab-and-go items that meet specific nutritional needs.
- The new role will expand Earth Fare’s recent tie-up with GenoPalate, which provides customers with a personalized nutrition report based on their genetic information coupled with details like their weight, age, wellness goals and lifestyle.
Dive Insight:
The first meals and recipes Maffei develops will link with Earth Fare’s GenoPalate partnership that launched last month as shoppers will soon be able to pick up prepackaged meal kits tailored to their specific nutritional needs, according to an emailed press release.
Maffei will send out a monthly newsletter to Earth Fare’s Healthy Rewards members featuring recipes and meal educational blog posts by her.
Prior to joining the Earth Fare team, Maffei earned her master’s in nutrition and dietetics from Kansas State University, where she collaborated with fellow nutritionists within the university’s athletic program. Her experience also includes working as a nutritionist at Hulsing Enterprises, which owns and operates more than 30 businesses specializing in hospitality properties, health and fitness facilities, medical supply companies and healthy grocery stores, according to her LinkedIn profile.
As shoppers become more reliant on their primary grocery store for health and wellness guidance, grocers are continuing to expand these offerings and resources.
According to FMI — The Food Industry Association’s recent “Food Industry Contributions to Health and Well-Being” report, 83% of surveyed suppliers and food retailers offer personalized nutrition education, including classes, one-on-one medical nutrition therapy/counseling and employee wellness programs.
Currently, Earth Fare does not plan to add more in-house nutritionists to its team, a spokesperson for the specialty grocer confirmed via email.
