HEALTHY EATING STARTS HERE
ABOUT TRENDZ
Health conscious consumers are demanding healthier food options to cater to their needs for nutritious eating and weight management. The retail food service industry has responded by adding healthy meal options to their existing menus but it is difficult to find a concept that has healthy eating at its core. In early 2000, while redeveloping existing retail food services within its hospitals, Edmonton’s Alberta Health Services began creating a healthy eating concept, healthy Trendz, to meet consumer needs. The healthy Trendz concept is based on offering consumers healthy food options at market prices through exceptional service in a fresh and exciting decor environment.
Brand Overview
In early 2000, Alberta Health Services began laying the foundation for a new concept now known as healthy Trendz. The concept offers healthy food choices for retail food outlets by incorporating sound nutrition information based Alberta Health Services “Steps to A Healthier You” framework. Alberta Health Services has a distinct advantage in creating menu options for the operator as it is supported by a team of registered dietitians from within our Nutrition and Food Services department. The healthy Trendz food options are created by incorporating healthy cooking techniques, proper portion sizes, and incorporating fresh and healthy ingredients such as fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grain products, heart healthy oils, herbs and spices for flavoring. healthy Trendz aims to offer consumers these healthy food options at competitive prices. The pricing strategy of healthy Trendz is to be a leader in the industry by providing a quality, healthy meal at an affordable price. Through reasonable pricing and an emphasis on portion control, healthy Trendz encourages customers to make healthy Trendz retail food outlets their destination away from the home pantry. Trendz is also the perfect destination for multiple purchases throughout the day in the work or recreation venues. In addition to food, healthy Trendz comes with a health and wellness promotion program that is supported by colorful nutrition posters and education material written by clinical experts. The concept has been divided into five options under the “healthy Trendz fresh food choices” umbrella with the intent of allowing the operator flexibility when incorporating healthy Trendz into their operations.
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The healthy Trendz concept offers food service operators an unmatched competitive advantage in the retail food industry. These advantages include:
• Fresh and healthy menu program for the traditional and non-traditional sectors
• Established branded logo and packaging material
• Recognized brand-name food partners including preferred pricing and marketing support
• Strategic supplier partnerships (food and beverage, design, equipment and signage partners)
• Customizable menus based on our offering of healthy menu components and preparation methods
• Business analysis and functional design services based on market sector, volumes and day part requirements for a high level of service and operating efficiency
• Design and equipment recommendations based on business reviews and functional requirements
• Ongoing operational support and training
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To Provide Flexibility to the operator, healthy Trendz offers five concept choices:
The food market concept designed to provide food and beverage items in a multi-concept setting offering grab n’ go food items, panini sandwiches, soups and full meal stations. This concept works best in an environment with a large customer base.
The bistro concept has been designed as a full operation with a footprint large enough to include Front and Back of House operations. This concept is designed as a self-contained outlet with offerings from the full healthy Trendz food program. The model offers food options for all day-parts including a snack program.
The café concept brings the bistro and express together in an efficient design and configuration. This concept uses the latest kitchen technologies in the back of house and pairs it with the fastest and most efficient food finishing technologies available for the front of house service area. This model also offers a premium coffee program with new and innovative beverage options.
The express concept offers an efficient configuration in 200 to 300 sq. ft. with limited storage and indirect production kitchen support. The concept provides a premium coffee program, combined with grab n’go food items externally prepared. This outlet is supported by a remote kitchen with a focus on high speed of service.
The Trendz in-line food option is designed to complement an existing food and
beverage program and includes our line-up of food products only. Food items include various grab n’ go items, panini sandwiches and the Campbell’s soup program. This option includes consulting services to enhance existing operations.
HEALTHY TRENDZ ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
healthy Trendz strives to be a leader in environmental sustainability and thereby reducing the impact on our environment. The brand is committed to the ongoing development of initiatives that ensure environmental sustainability.
These initiatives include:
• Sourcing and use of kitchen equipment that reduces the use of energy resources
• Incorporation of production procedures that reduce food and beverage waste
• Recycling of containers
• Use of bio-degradable packaging that allows for the recovery of resources
• Local sourcing thereby reducing requirement for long-distance transportation
Business Case for Sustainability
There are many strategic, business and community benefits to prioritizing sustainability.
These include:
1. Fostering a culture and industry of innovation and creativity
2. Avoiding increased costs for products, resources or waste management
3. Staying ahead of new environmental laws or taxes
4. Strengthening the brand reputation, increasing customer loyalty, and improving stakeholder relations
5. Being an industry leader, developing new revenue opportunities (i.e. retailing of to-go mugs) and increasing market share
6. Reducing exposure to future uncertainties and risk
The concept has been divided into five options under the “healthy Trendz fresh food choices” umbrella with the intent of allowing the operator flexibility when incorporating healthy Trendz into their operations.
Use of Equipment and Operational Practices that Lowers Energy Requirements
Our progression to the use of high efficiency kitchen equipment and mechanical systems continues to reduce the use of energy requirements within our outlets.
Examples include:
• Purchase of Energy Star appliances, with overnight energy saving cycle.
• Use of high efficiency dishwashers that limit water usage and a practice that requires operators fill machines to optimal capacity before use.
• Automated temperature management systems that monitor temperatures and alert operators of changes via PDA or email.
• Operational procedure to keep refrigerators clean and well organized, and instal strip curtains to conserve energy.
Use of Bio-degradable Packaging Allowing for Recovery of Resources
healthy Trendz continues to source green package options such as bio-degradable packaging, recyclable, and reusable containers.
Examples include:
• Greenware Cold Drinking Cups
• Disposable Biodegradable Cutlery
• Natural Paper Napkins
• Individually Wrapped Wooden Stir Sticks
Local Sourcing Resulting in a Reduced Carbon Footprint
Growing awareness of our carbon footprint and environmental sustainability has generated increased attention on the impact of shipping food across the country and around the globe. This awareness combined with our goal of using fresh food are key consumer benefits that locally sourced foods are often better able to deliver compared to imported foods.
healthy Trendz strives to use locally sourced food, beverage and packaging products where possible. Specific local products used change based on outlet location, distributor options and product availability.
Examples include:
• Local bakeries for the supply of bread and baked goods,
• Local butchers for the supply of fresh meats,
• Bottled water bottled in a biodegradable bottle by a Sherwood Park, Alberta operated company.
Use of Reusable Packaging
healthy Trendz incorporates offers customers a beverage discount for the use of a reusable coffee mug with the goal of reducing the use of disposable packaging.