Public Health Organization Partners with Major North Country Food Distributor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Public Health Organization Partners with Major North Country Food Distributor

North Country Healthy Heart Network, Inc. Partners with Glazier Packing Co.
to offer “Fit Pix” Package to Convenience Stores

 CONTACT: Glenn Pareira, Program Specialist 581-897-5980
Jamie Konkoski, Program Manager 518-897-5981

Franklin County, New York – May 29, 2014 – Starting this month, a new partnership will bring more healthy food options to convenience stores across the North Country.  Glazier Packing Company, a well known and trusted North Country distributor is working with the North Country Healthy Heart Network’s “Fit Pix” program to offer convenience stores a “Fit Pix Variety Pack” containing a variety of fruits and vegetables in quantities that can be reasonably sold in a week.  To help make this offering a success, the Heart Network’s Fit Pix Program will also be offering FREE assistance to any stores interested in increasing sales of produce through improved displays and advertising.

This offering is the result of several years of work by the North Country Healthy Heart Network’s Fit Pix Program to encourage local convenience store owners to add more fruits and vegetables to their shelves.  Through this process the Heart Network identified distribution as a major barrier to keeping fresh food items on the shelf.

“Many of the convenience stores participating in the “Fit Pix” program reported that they were unable to order fresh produce in quantities that they were able to sell,” says North Country Healthy Heart Network, Program Manager, Jamie Konkoski, “produce has a very limited shelf life and store managers have been hesitant to purchase more fruit and vegetables than they can confidently sell in a week.”

The lack of options through distributors has led many store owners and managers to purchase produce directly from retail stores like Aldi’s and Price Chopper.  The extra time and expense required to get these items has made carrying them less of a priority for some store owners.

“By partnering with Glazier’s to offer a more practical produce option as part of the store’s normal delivery schedule we hope to get more stores carrying fruits and vegetables and more customers buying them” says Ms. Konkoski.

“Glazier is excited to continue their time honored tradition of helping to meet the ever growing needs in the communities they serve,” says Glaziers President Shawn Glazier, “and by offering fruits and veggies in smaller quantities to convenience stores, more people will have access to healthier options.”

The range of assistance available to stores from the Fit Pix program include: assessing local demand for produce; providing educational resources for customers, owners, and staff; and setting up displays.   Additionally, the Fit Pix Program offers product incentives to store owners such as display equipment, promotional materials, kitchen equipment, print and radio ads, coupons, and special events.

The Fit Pix Variety Packs are available to all Glazier retail customers.  Stores are encouraged to contact Glazier’s Food Service Distributors (1-888-257-1224) for pricing and additional info.  Assistance and incentives from the Heart Network’ Fit Pix Program are currently only available in Franklin County, To learn more about the Fit Pix Program contact Program Coordinator Andrea Goff at 518-897-5981.