FOLSOM, Calif. – The California Walnut Board is celebrating American Heart Month throughout February for the second consecutive year by expanding its fully integrated retail marketing campaigns to three markets. The 2019 program, which builds off the success of the 2018 test market programs in Charlotte, NC and Minneapolis, MN, is anticipated to surpass the sales gains the first two markets experienced last year.
All programs are showcasing the heart health benefits of walnuts[1] through a wide range of in-store demos, displays, value-added offers, and advertisements. This collaborative program is designed to boost retailers’ efforts around American Heart Month and position walnuts as a simple step that shoppers can take towards making heart-healthy food choices. To help drive awareness and sales of California walnuts, participating retailers are choosing from a wide variety of support, including local television and radio tags and experiential activities for those retailers who merchandise walnuts.
“All of us at California Walnuts were thrilled with the sales increases our retail partners experienced during our 2018 campaign, and we’re even more excited to expand this program to more than 2,300 retail locations this year,” said Michelle Connelly, Executive Director of the California Walnut Board. “This year’s retail partners, along with our participating walnut handlers, have worked closely together to share the culinary versatility and heart health benefits of walnuts through impactful, customized programs that fit their specific needs and also speak directly to their customers.”
Program elements provided by California Walnuts include radio, television, and digital advertisements; value-added offers, point-of-purchase displays, in-store audio ads, shelf signage, header cards, and stanchion signs; as well as recipes, videos and content for in-store samplings, retail circulars, display contests, social media, and integrated activities with retail dietitians.
Participating retailers include:
- Sacramento: Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Raley’s/Bel Air/Nob Hill Foods, Save Mart Supermarkets/FoodMaxx/Lucky and Nugget Markets
- Richmond, VA: Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Publix
- Denver: Safeway and Sprouts Farmers Markets
Interest in California Walnuts’ American Heart Month promotions has also led to additional February promotions with USA Pears in the produce sections of retailers including Price Chopper in Albany, NY and Redner’s Markets in Reading, PA as well as a partnership with California Avocados in Mollie Stone’s Markets in the San Francisco Bay area.
About the California Walnut Board
The California Walnut Board is a federal marketing order, established in 1948 to represent Growers and Handlers in promoting the consumption of walnuts in the United States. Among its responsibilities, the Board conducts consumer marketing programs, production/post-harvest research and regulatory/trade management. To learn more, visit walnuts.org.
Non-Discrimination Statement
The California Walnut Board (CWB) prohibits discrimination in all programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance programs. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the CWB offices at (916) 922-5888. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). CWC is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
The California Walnut Board & Commission offices are located at 101 Parkshore Dr., Ste. #250, Folsom, CA 95630
[1] Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One ounce of walnuts provides 18g of total fat, 2.5g of monounsaturated fat, 13g of polyunsaturated fat, including 2.5g of alpha-linolenic acid, the plant-based omega-3.
