Dive Brief:
- Hy-Vee announced Monday that it has added the nutritional scoring system from the FoodHealth Company to products listed on its online and mobile shopping platforms.
- With the 1-100 rating, shoppers can compare the nutrition of items, with healthier products achieving a higher ranking.
- Hy-Vee positioned the rollout of the metric as a way to build trust with consumers who factor health into their online grocery shopping.
Dive Insight:
Hy-Vee’s collaboration with the FoodHealth Company is happening at the start of the new year, when many consumers have made health and wellness priorities with their New Year’s resolutions.
The FoodHealth scoring system assesses a product’s nutrient density — such as the amount of protein, fiber and added sugars — and ingredient quality — including artificial colors, whole grains, probiotics and deep frying — to determine how it ranks.
Hy-Vee noted that consumer awareness of product attributes and healthier eating is increasing amid a push by federal regulators to eliminate red dyes and to regulate ultra-processed foods.
“The score reflects how closely household food choices align with dietary patterns proven to lower chronic disease risk,” Hy-Vee said in the announcement.
Hy-Vee customers can also access FoodHealth Score Insights, which explain why an item received the score that it did, and get recommendations for healthier alternatives.
“This tool builds upon the dietitian and pharmacy services we already offer and adds to our holistic ‘food is medicine’ approach that we provide to our customers,” Hy-Vee President Aaron Wiese said in a statement.
Hy-Vee’s collaboration with the FoodHealth Company comes as grocers roll out tools to help consumers understand the nutritional values of products and find healthier options.
Ahold Delhaize began using Guiding Stars in 2006 at its Hannaford banner and has since rolled it out to all of its U.S. banners. Kroger partnered with the FoodHealth Company in late 2024 to introduce the nutrition scoring system to its customers. FoodHealth, formerly known as bitewell, raised $7.5 million in an oversubscribed Series A round led by Reach Capital and Ulu Ventures in mid-2025.
Hy-Vee’s recent health-focused efforts include offering a concierge healthcare benefit, expanding its clinic services by becoming a joint owner of private healthcare organization Exemplar Care and launching a $99-per-month health and wellness subscription. The company runs more than 280 grocery stores across eight Midwestern states.
