CHICAGO — Rite Aid Corp. has rolled out Wholesome Goodness, a line of affordable natural foods, at its more than 4,600 drug stores nationwide.
The Chicago-based food company said that Rite Aid is the first drug chain to carry the Wholesome Goodness line.
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Rite Aid began offering 25 Wholesome Goodness products in its stores this month. |
Rite Aid began offering 25 Wholesome Goodness products this month. Items include hot and cold cereals, trail mixes, omega and veggie tortilla chips, pasta and barbecue sauces, and juice, among others.
According to the food company, Wholesome Goodness products are made with a "nutrition-minded approach," stressing natural ingredients such as whole grains, fiber and beneficial antioxidants while minimizing or eliminating sugar, sodium and fat.
The brand also shuns the use of 126 ingredients commonly employed by other food makers, such as artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings and preservatives, including high fructose corn syrup, trans fats and other highly processed ingredients. All packages are clearly labeled to provide consumers with the nutritional benefits as well as identifying those that meet gluten-free and kosher dietary guidelines.
Wholesome Goodness also notes that all of its products are affordably priced in order to make healthy foods more accessible to families. The company reports that prices for Wholesome Goodness products are below those of comparable mainstream brands and are much lower than other all-natural or organic product lines.
In addition, the products and their packaging are designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. For example, the items are produced in LEED-certified facilities, and cartons and boxes are made with recyclable materials and/or aseptic packaging made from renewable resources, eliminating the use of plastics.
Rite Aid recently has ramped up its offering of natural, organic and health-minded consumables. For example, the chain’s "wellness store" locations feature dedicated and/or enlarged sections for natural, organic and gluten-free food and beverages. Plans call for Rite Aid to remodel 500 stores to the wellness format in its current fiscal year, up from the 280 store conversions it completed in the previous fiscal year.
