FDBusiness.com

Grocery shopping can be a source of frustration, temptation, even unnecessary snacking – and discount supermarket chain Aldi says is making big changes for the better. To kick off the New Year, Aldi says it is giving customers more selections they can feel good about – from increased organics and healthier options at checkout, to exclusive brand food products free from ingredients customers worry about.

“This time of year, I’m especially focused on looking for healthy options at the grocery store that my whole family can feel good about,” said Elizabeth Ward, registered dietitian, author and ALDI Advisory Council member. “As a busy mother of three, Aldi is my go-to destination to get high-quality ingredients for well-balanced meals, all while saving time and money.”

Checklanes are a notorious source of unhealthy impulse buys. To cut out that temptation and allow shoppers to end their grocery trips on a healthy note, Aldi is introducing Healthier Checklanes in select stores this year. Rather than chocolates and candies, these checklanes will be stocked with healthier items like single serve nuts and trail mixes, dried fruits and an assortment of granola bars. Aldi plans to roll out the program to its nearly 1,500 locations by the end of 2016.

“By introducing Healthier Checklanes and through a number of other initiatives, we are doing our part to remove temptation at checkout and stocking stores with even more nutritious options,” said Jason Hart, CEO, Aldi. “At Aldi, we truly care about our customers, and we’re responding with guilt-free checkout zones and increased food options they can feel good about.”

These changes aren’t just taking place at checkout. Aldi said it will make the overall shopping experience simpler throughout the store, especially when it comes to filling the cart with better-for-you options. Aldi exclusive food brands, which comprise more than 90 percent of products sold in stores, are now free of certified synthetic colours, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) and added MSG. Aldi says it recently found that more than half of Americans believe items without artificial ingredients are more expensive and harder to find, and this is just another way the company claims it continues to respond to customers’ priorities.

The company says it has also taken the ingredient removal commitment a step further. While Aldi milk has been free of artificial growth hormones for years, Aldi says it is committed to ensuring that the milk used to make all Aldi cultured products, such as yogurts, sour cream, and cottage cheese, has no artificial growth hormones.

Aldi is a leading global discount supermarket chain with almost 10,000 stores in 18 countries, and an estimated turnover of more than €50bn.