Hollister Super is checking out healthy options for impulsive shoppers.
The local grocery market accepted the San Benito County Public Health Department’s request to designate one of the store’s aisles as a “Healthy Checkout Lane” as a way to promote nutritious choices at the checkout lane where stores often tempt customers with sweets and other unhealthy options.
The new checkout lane at Hollister Super Market at Third and San Benito streets features signs telling customers about the special designation.
Store owner Jim Gibson joined the county’s health officer, Dr. Anju Goel, and Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez in celebrating the new checkout lane Tuesday morning with a ribbon cutting.
“We were more than glad to participate,” Gibson told the Free Lance. We have this merchandise available.”
In the long term, though, Gibson said any space in the grocery store will have to “justify itself by sales.”
“Hopefully it’ll work out,” he said.
Health officials hope the checkout lane sends a message to residents about their choices in a county where the rate of people who are obese or overweight eclipses 76 percent, according to health department spokeswoman Sam Perez. The office runs a program called Champions for Change that involves reaching out to stores such as Hollister Super Market with such initiatives.
Goel also recently honored Nob Hill for halting sale of all tobacco products. She said the health department plans to approach Nob Hill about the Healthy Checkout Lane idea as well.
She handed a certificate to Gibson at the event Tuesday.
“We feel that the more options people have to eat healthy food, the more likely they are to make those choices.”
