BATAVIA, IL - Looks like Aldi has chosen its New Year’s resolution for 2016—eat healthier! The chain has announced a slew of new commitments this week, including highlighting healthier items at checkout, expanding its organic produce selection, and partnering with registered dietitians for healthy menu plans. 

“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,” explained 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.”

Checkout lanes are often precarious places to meander through, dodging chocolate bars, sodas, and candies of all kinds. Aldi has vowed to banish these items in its latest press release, and instead will highlight items like single serve nuts and trail mixes, dried fruits, and an assortment of granola bars. 

“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.” 

ALDI has said these changes will be rolled out to all its nearly 1,500 locations by the end of 2016. 

Changes will also be taking place beyond the checkout, the company says, adding “it’s clear that the shopping experience is no longer about ‘shopping the perimeter,’ where fresh and healthier items historically appeared in stores.” Aldi has announced it will be expanding its selection of fresh and organic produce in an effort to push healthy items “beyond the perimeter.” 

Other updates Aldi will be implementing in this continued commitment to health include:

• Expanding the SimplyNature line of products, free of more than 125 artificial ingredients, as well as a gluten-free line of products under the ALDI exclusive brand, liveGfree.
• Highlighting nutritional facts on the front of its exclusive brand food packages for shoppers to easily find key nutritional information.
• Partnering with registered dietitians through its Advisory Council to provide tips, recipes and meal-planning ideas that make healthy eating easy and affordable for families. 

Will consumers join Aldi in kicking off the New Year with a fresh start? AndNowUKnow will continue to update you on how the healthy retail landscape develops.

Aldi