BRAMPTON, Ontario — Loblaw Cos. and its pharmacy group have been awarded the Certificate of Excellence by Hypertension Canada for their efforts to promote health management and help patients manage chronic disease.
The Canadian food and drug retailer said Thursday that the company was recognized, in particular, for its efforts to help consumers cut down their sodium intake via the S.A.L.T. (Sodium Awareness Lifestyle Tips) campaign.
Developed by Loblaw and launched in February, S.A.L.T. ran for a full month in the retailer’s food and drug stores. Patient engagement activity centered on cardiovascular health, with a special focus on sodium intake guidelines according to Hypertension Canada’s CHEP recommendations.
In addition, patients taking blood pressure medications were educated about the link between sodium and hypertension, recommended daily levels of sodium, and the need to monitor personal sodium intake.
"At Loblaw, we aim to empower our customers to make healthier choices and provide them with support on their journey to a healthier lifestyle," Bobbi Reinholdt, senior vice president of pharmacy at Loblaw, said in a statement. "We are proud of the way the S.A.L.T. campaign was successful in raising awareness with our patients and the role our pharmacists and dietitians play in helping customers manage their health and wellness needs."
Loblaw added that it offers a range of patient education programs, as well as in-store dietitians, to address customers’ health and wellness needs, including collaborations with organizations such as Hypertension Canada, the Canadian Diabetes Association and Anaphylaxis Canada. The retailer’s 1,000-plus supermarkets across Canada include about 500 pharmacies, and its banner stores are home to over 100 affiliated medical clinics, 100 optical stores and 60 Goodlife Fitness facilities.
