More C-store Chains Join Partnership for a Healthier America

LAS VEGAS — Two regional convenience store chains — U-Gas, home of GiGi’s Café Express, and Tri Star Services’ Twice Daily — have signed on to expand healthier options across their stores as part of The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which works with the private sector and PHA Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama.

Fenton, Mo.-based U-Gas and Nashville, Tenn-based Twice Daily will maintain and build upon healthy food choices; continue to make those choices more affordable; and support healthier options through in-store marketing and promotions to meet their customers’ needs.

These new partnerships will affect U-Gas stores in Missouri and Illinois, and Twice Daily locations in Tennessee and Kentucky.

“Half of the U.S. population visits a convenience store every single day, and more and more they’re looking for healthier options, which are also more profitable for business,” said Lawrence A. Soler, CEO of the PHA. “As consumer demand continues its shift toward health, U-Gas and Twice Daily are stepping up to ensure their customers have access to those healthier, more affordable options whether they’re grabbing a snack or a meal to go.”

Over the next few years, U-Gas and Twice Daily will work with PHA to expand healthier food offerings that include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, healthier packaged foods, and healthier made-to-order and grab-and-go options. The chains will also focus on in-store promotion of healthier products, as well as tactical ways to show customers that making the healthy choice is the easy choice.

Additionally, in support of PHA’s Drink Up Initiative, both U-Gas and Twice Daily will add the Drink Up logo to all private-label water bottles and engage in other marketing activities to encourage more customers to drink water more often.

Announcement of these new partnerships was made at the 2015 NACS Show, held this week at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Nearly 1,000 c-stores have now committed to PHA to increase access to healthier foods in their stores.

“As an industry, we are committed to making a difference in our customers’ lives and increasingly that involves providing more healthy options in stores,” said NACS President and CEO Henry Armour. “We look forward to continuing to work with PHA and other like-minded groups to celebrate our members’ commitment to the communities they serve.”