Washington, D.C., September 5, 2019—As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen dietary supplement industry relations with retailers, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, is actively participating in high-profile events that engage with, and influence, the retail community.
“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, Mr. Eason reported that over 1,600 products from more than 150 suppliers have gone through the program. He indicated that only seven percent of products did not pass the initial testing and have since been reformulated, relabeled or removed from shelves. Additionally, Mr. 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 thought-provoking 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, Mr. 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.”
For more information on CRN’s Retailer Relations Forum, contact Tom Mondragon, tom@OLLY.com.
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The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 150+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Visit www.crnusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @CRN_Supplements, Facebook, and LinkedIn.