fbpx

Convergence Center For Policy Resolution

Convergence Project on
NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

Putting market forces to work to increase the demand for healthier foods. 

Major support for the Project on Nutrition and Wellness was provided by: 

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 

We would also like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their support: 

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

American Academy of Pediatrics

Anthem, Inc.

Bipartisan Policy Center

Campbell Soup Company

Cargill

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

Food Marketing Institute Foundation

Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund

Grocery Manufacturers Association

Kaiser Permanente National Community Benefit Fund

Maja Kristin

PepsiCo

National Association of Convenience Stores

Stuart Family Foundation

Walmart Foundation

The Vision

Beginning in 2012, the Project on Nutrition and Wellness (PNW) brought together food manufacturers, public health experts, food retailers, community groups, healthcare providers, consumer advocates, health insurers, and others to explore cross-sector approaches to improve American diets to reduce nutrition-related problems. 

The group sought to address this significant public health issue by utilizing market forces to increase consumer demand for healthier foods. They also aimed to encourage consumers to eat healthier by buying healthier – a goal they all shared and an idea that wasn’t receiving enough attention in the marketplace. 

Throughout the project, PNW stakeholders moved this agenda forward by commissioning new consumer research, identifying marketing opportunities to grow sales of healthier foods, conducting pilot tests in grocery and convenience stores, and developing tools for the grocery retail industry to help shift consumer demand toward healthier eating. 

The Problem

The crisis of poor nutrition among Americans represents a defining public health challenge for our generation. Rates of health implications from poor nutrition have risen sharply over the past three decades. Many costly and burdensome chronic diseases are linked to excess weight, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, hypertension and arthritis.  

Despite efforts to increase awareness of the importance of health and wellness, the prevalence of nutrition and diet-related conditions has increased. Weight-related health conditions lower the quality of life for many Americans and adversely affect the U.S. economy. Unhealthy food habits also impact national security, as many potential military recruits and large numbers of current service members are not physically fit to serve. 

$190 Billion image

The U.S. spent $190 billion on weight-related health care expenses in 2005.
National Library of Medicine

3X image

Rates of type 2 diabetes more than tripled from 5.6 million in 1980 to 19.7 million in 2009, with an estimated 7-8 million Americans still undiagnosed.
CDC

2 people running image

In 2010, 59% of females and 47% of males who took the military’s entry-level physical fitness test failed.
Bipartisan Policy Center

Convergence Dialogue Consensus Blueprint

plate with leaves, fork and knife icon

Develop a national campaign around healthy eating and living

The campaign would include marketplace and communications programs that reach consumers in multiple ways such as when food shopping, visiting the doctor or listening to public service announcements. 

2 gears linked by an arrow

Design and promote large scale efforts to integrate food retail, nutrition and health care services

Offer consumers a onestop shop for these services. Financial incentives such as coupons or dining points for the purchase of healthier foods could be built in. 

hand holding leaves

Improve the wholesale supply chain for fresh foods nationwide

Assist small retailers who often have limited access to fresh produce and other healthier items. 

store front with heart icon

Assist small chains and independent stores

Provide support to stores that face challenges in promoting and marketing new products due to limited resources. 

Project Outcomes

Convergence Joins The “Convenience Matters” Podcast

Convergence’s Project on Nutrition and Wellness project director Amy Slechta joins the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) “Convenience Matters” podcast to discuss how Convergence and NACS have been working to increase access to and the sale of healthier food options in grocery and convenience stores.

Project on Nutrition and Wellness Grocery and Retail Scorecard

The Grocery Retail Scorecard is designed to help retailers meet growing consumer demand for healthy and “better-for-you” foods and beverages. It is a set of 90 evidence-based strategies that grocery retailers can implement in their stores to grow sales of healthier foods and beverages. These changes are of little or no cost to the retailer. This program was developed in partnership with the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab and grocery retail and public health partner organizations.

NCCOR Global Lessons Report

Convergence’s Project on Nutrition and Wellness is featured as an example of a successful public health-industry alliance for combatting childhood obesity in a new report by the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR).

Testimonials

quotation marks

In the News

CSP daily news logo

5 Takeaways From C-Stores' Meal-Kit Tests

“NACS partnered with the Project on Nutrition and Wellness and the Cornell Food and Brand Lab to get a feel for the challenges ahead of c-stores as they enter the burgeoning market.”

Lehigh Valley Business logo

National Convenience-Store Initiative Launches Here Square One Tests Family Dinner Kits In Bethlehem

The Lehigh Valley Business Journal highlights the Six O’Clock Scramble Fresh and Fast Family Dinner Kits pilot in Bethlehem, PA. This was made possible thanks to a collaboration between Convergence’s Project on Nutrition and Wellness, and the National Association of Convenience Stores, among others.

CSP daily news logo

C-Store Chain Launches Meal Kit Pilot

Convenience Store and Fuels News (CSPnet.com) describes the Six O’Clock Scramble meal kit pilot project to encourage healthier choices among convenience store shoppers.

Program Funders

Stuart Family Foundation

Interested in funding a project in the future?

Check out our donate page or contact our development team to learn more.

shaking hands icon

Never Miss an Update!

Subscribe for Updates

Name(Required)