Nutrition is an important issue for an increasing number of consumers. The more you can help your customers put nutritious and delicious meals on the table, the better your opportunity to capture a bigger share of their food dollar. When on-pack nutrition labels are in place, research has shown that retailers can expect to see an increase in beef sales.
Beef is one of the most nutrient-rich foods in the supermarket – but many of your customers will not know this unless you educate them on beef’s nutritional benefits. Bookmark this page, as it will serve as Nutrition Central – your one-stop shop for everything you need to effectively communicate with your customers about beef nutrition.
Beef – The Nutrition Powerhouse
What makes beef such a nutrient powerhouse? Beef is a high-quality protein; its nutrients are important for muscle development, healthy bones, normal metabolism and balanced blood sugar.
Beef is an excellent source of protein. In fact, it’s one of the best natural sources of protein in the supermarket! While your customers often associate beef with protein, they may not know about its other nutritional benefits and how those nutrients can contribute to a healthy, well-balanced diet. Beef is also an excellent source of zinc, vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorous; and a good source of iron and other B-vitamins.
Why put the spotlight on protein when marketing beef to your customers?
Research shows that consumers have a high interest in finding foods that are sources of protein. When you promote beef as THE source for protein in a healthy diet, you not only provide valuable nutrition education for your customers, but you also position your meat case as a nutrition destination for your customers. When you supplement on-pack nutrition facts panel labels with messages about protein and the other nutritional benefits of beef, you shine more light on beef's role in a healthy, balanced diet.
In addition to your on-pack labels, how can you effectively communicate beef nutrition messages, particularly the protein message, to your customers? Drive home the message that beef is a high-quality protein through various means, including:
- point-of-sale (POS)
- print advertisements
- your Web site
The information below is designed to help you transform the beef section of your meat case from an ingredient source for a meal into the epicenter of nutritious meal solutions.
Your Nutrition Toolbox above includes links to the resources you need to successfully implement an On-Pack Nutrition Labeling program.
Additional Resources
- Beef Training Camp's Nutrition Fact Sheet (a great resource for training your meat associates on the nutritional benefits of beef)
- BeefNutrition.org (a great resource for dieticians and other nutrition professionals)
- Nutrition Webinar for In-store Registered Dietitians (information for nutrition professionals on beef’s nutritional value and the impact of new meal labeling regulation on shoppers)
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- USDA Resources
- MeatNutritionLabeling.org
Source: The Beef Checkoff Program
