Kroger releases comparison app to promote healthy purchases

US retailer Kroger has created a food comparison app for US consumers, which provides comprehensive nutritional information of products and provides tailored product recommendations in order to encourage “healthier purchase decisions.”

Kroger’s OptUp app scores products based on their nutritional value, and consumers can scan and search for products to determine whether the products are suitable for them.

Scores range from 1-100 and form three categories: The red category ranges from 1-35 and denotes food with poor nutritional value, yellow ranges from 36-70 and products in the green category score 71 or above.

Products in the green category are recommended to consumers as they can be lower in saturated fat, sodium, sugar, and calories; and may be higher in fibre, protein, and fruit/vegetable or nut content.

The purchase choices of consumers over the past eight weeks will form a cumulative score ranging from 1 to 1000, and Kroger says that the ideal score is 600 or above, encouraging consumers to make more informed, healthy purchase choices when they buy groceries.

Colleen Lindholz, Kroger’s president of pharmacy and The Little Clinic said: “Kroger’s new OptUP app is transformational for the food retail industry. The app puts nutritional information at your fingertips and makes finding and buying better-for-you products easier and simpler.

“The OptUP app is a part of Kroger’s recently-launched Wellness Your Way platform in support of Restock Kroger.

“As part of redefining the customer experience, we are encouraging our shoppers to engage in a balanced, holistic approach to selfcare.”

Yael Cosset, Kroger’s chief digital officer added: “OptUP is a collaboration among our health, tech, digital, and 84.51° teams.

“The data-driven app creates a more transparent and educational experience for our customers, continuing our commitment to help Americans shop, eat, and live healthier on their terms.”