The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has been focused on engaging and influencing the retail community in an effort to strengthen relations with the dietary supplement industry.
“CRN believes that strength comes from building alliances. In-person events are particularly effective for cooperation and showcasing CRN as a reputable partner when it comes to educational information on the supplement industry and its products,” said Steve Mister, president & CEO, CRN. “We are proud of the multiple platforms we’ve established for our member companies to build business with retailers and serve as CRN ambassadors.”
 
Educating Supermarket Registered Dietitians About Adulterated Products
For the third year in a row, CRN sponsored and attended Shopping for Health, an invitation-only event held for registered dietitians, nutritionists, and consumer advisors at supermarket and retail chains, including Albertson’s, Giant, Kroger, and Wegmans. CRN’s Nancy Weindruch, vice president, communications, joined by CRN’s Holly Vogtman, communications manager, facilitated the session, “Too Good to Be True,” discussing the dangers of adulterated products in the marketplace and how FDA regulation along with responsible companies’ adherence to industry best practices and participation in self-regulatory initiatives can mitigate those dangers.
 
Sharing Perspectives of CVS, IRI with CRN Member Companies
CRN’s newly formed Retailer Relations Forum held its first in-person event at the NACDS Total Store Expo in Boston on Aug. 26. Brian Eason, vice president, consumer health & wellness, CVS, spoke to the Forum about CVS’ goals for the supplement aisle and expectations of the vendor community. For instance, regarding CVS’ new Tested to be Trusted program, Eason reported that over 1,600 products from more than 150 suppliers have gone through the program. He indicated that only 7% of products did not pass the initial testing and have since been reformulated, relabeled or removed from shelves. Additionally, Eason shared CVS’ vision for expanding its “health hubs,” which are currently being test-marketed in Houston.
 
Lisa Buono, principal, client insights, IRI, also presented at the in-person event, providing insights into nutritional product growth and how omni-channel opportunities are influencing consumer behavior. 
 
Your Dietary Supplements Aisle: Walking the Line for Success
On Oct. 6, at the Global Market Development Center’s (GMDC) Selfcare Summit, Mister will present the latest trends in the supplement aisle and offer strategic advice on partnering with supplement vendors to provide customers more information about how these products promote health and wellness. 
 
“A strong relationship between a dietary supplement company and a retailer is a core part of the foundation for establishing—and maintaining—trust in our products,” said Tom Mondragon, vice president of sales, Olly PBC, and chair of CRN’s Retailer Relations Forum. “I look forward to serving in a leadership role for CRN’s efforts to increase access to valuable retail partners.”