HELPING WITH HEALTH

By Rosalind Stefanac

THE UNCERTAINTY of the last few years has left most of us eager to regain control of our lives—and a key part of that is taking charge of our health. According to a recent survey of more than 11,000 consumers in 16 countries, including Canada, a majority of consumers consider health and fitness an “essential” part of their lives. Even though 66% of respondents to the survey—conducted by global professional services firm Accenture—said they feel financially squeezed, 80% intend to maintain or increase their spend on health and fitness in 2023, whether that be via vitamins, supplements or exercise classes.

“For grocery, [health and wellness] used to be in that nice to have space and now it’s a need to have,” says Krystal Register, senior director, health and well-being at the Food Industry Association (FMI) That the average grocery store is already teeming with nutritious foods and beverages makes it an ideal destination for all these health and wellness-minded consumers, she says. With some grocers also having