Dietitians Available as Shoppers Stroll ShopRite Aisles

For someone with special health needs, or someone just looking to make changes to their eating habits, shopping at a supermarket can be daunting.

How do you know the right foods and ingredients to choose?

For ShopRite customers in Manchester and Toms River, there is someone they can ask, right there as they shop: a registered dietitian.

Aimee Wharton and Jennifer Klein, who are registered dietitians, have been hired to offer nutritional information and guidance in the stores. Wharton, who has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from Maywood University, will be working at the Toms River store.

Klein, who has a degree in nutrition sciences from Montclair State University, will be at the Manchester store. Both stores are owned by the Perlmutter family.

ShopRite has been employing registered dietitians in some of its stores for four years, said Natalie Menza, corporate dietitian for ShopRite. “They are intended to be available for customers that have health concerns and to provide information for in-store events and cooking classes. It's really giving customers the educational resources to help them make more informed shopping decisions.”

Menza, who has a bachelor’s degree in nutritional science from Rutgers University and a master's degree in nutrition from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, said the in-store dietitians are involved in educating not only the customers, but also the employees who work for ShopRite.

“The dietitians who work in our stores have the job of walking the aisles and engaging the customer. When customers know about the retail dietitians' service, they will approach the dietitian just to ask them a couple of questions about choosing a better cereal, locating a gluten-free option or finding a food item for their child who has some sort of allergy to peanuts or tree nuts,” Menza said.

The service includes other amenities besides answering questions and handing out pamphlets. ShopRite’s new service will also include outreach programs to the community as well as shopping list ideas, one-on-one consultations, and tours in the store.

According to Menza, Wharton and Klein will not work merely 9-5 shifts. They will be available to consumers who shop at all hours and days of the workweek.

“They are working very nontypical hours,” Menza said. “They are there a few evenings during the week as well as weekends because we are open seven days a week, and we have shoppers who only shop on Saturdays. We want to make sure we make our services available to all our shoppers.”

Being active in a community with different demographics and age groups enables the dietitians to work whenever then need arises.

“I can’t say there is a typical day, it varies. Our dietitians create their days really on the demands of the demographic. Whatever the consumer in that area is demanding, we give them,” Menza said.

One topic the dietitians will be focusing on will be nutritional ideas for back-to-school families. Packing healthier lunchbox items and after-school snack ideas are among the many tips the retail dietitians can offer.

“This is a unique service that we are proud to offer our customers,”  Perlmutter wrote in the press release.  “Adding Aimee and Jennifer to our team at the ShopRites of Fischer Boulevard and Manchester is just another way that we try to go above and beyond to provide value and service to our customers, associates and the local community.”

Customers can make appointments with the dietitians, as well. To make an appointment with Wharton, customers can call the Fischer Boulevard store at 732-270-8833 or reach her directly at 732-341-0700, ext. 60. To make an appointment with Klein, customers can call the Manchester store at 732-657-0700 or reach her directly at 732-341-0700, ext. 57.