Richmond, VA  As MARTIN'S Food Markets continue to open in the Richmond community, customers are finding an increased emphasis on health and wellness products, programs and services. In addition to the expanded selection of healthy, natural and organic products, MARTIN'S today announced the hiring of Valerie Waters, RD, who will serve as an in-store nutritionist to assist customers with questions on healthy eating. Beginning today, Waters will work in the John Rolfe MARTIN'S located at 2250 John Rolfe Boulevard three days a week and will be available two days a week at the Crossridge store at 10250 Staples Mill Road in Glen Allen.

"MARTIN'S is one of the few grocery store chains in the country to offer customers access to a nutritionist right in their store," said Jim Scanlon, regional vice president. "Valerie will be available to help customers navigate the barrage of health information to make healthful choices while shopping for themselves and their families."

With more than seven years of experience in dietetics, Waters is credentialed as a Registered Dietitian and is actively involved in local and state dietetic associations. She currently serves as president of the Richmond Dietetic Association. Waters earned a Bachelor of Science in dietetics and consumer foods from Virginia Tech.

"Nutrition and wellness are on the minds of our customers now more than ever," said Waters. "Being able to use a grocery store as a teaching aid is priceless. Many of the questions I receive from customers can be answered directly as we navigate the aisles and make better choices of what we put into our carts."

MARTIN'S also offers Healthy Ideas", a proprietary product-labeling system that helps customers identify healthy options as they shop the aisles of the grocery store, has been introduced in all stores. Blue and green Healthy Ideas labels can be found on the shelves identifying thousands of products, including store and national brand products and perishables to help customers make healthy choices that fit their lifestyles.

Healthy Ideas products adhere to criteria based the federal definition of "healthy." Healthy Ideas takes total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar into account when assessing products. In order to receive the Healthy Ideas distinction, a product must meet certain criteria developed by a team of registered dietitians, using information from Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA Food Pyramid, and the definition of "healthy" from the USDA and FDA. Foods labeled with the Healthy Ideas symbol include single ingredient vegetables, fruits and 100% fruit juice, some canned, frozen and dried fruits, certain breads, cereals, rice and pasta, low fat dairy products and some snack foods.

MARTIN'S offers a variety of more than 2,500 natural and organic products, including MARTIN'S own brand, Nature's Promise. In addition, perishable departments will provide organic selections of produce, dairy, meat and poultry items. MARTIN'S also features a designated gluten-free product area, with a selection of gluten-free foods readily available to those customers on gluten-free diets due to celiac disease or other health concerns.

It's not just adults who need a refresher course in eating healthy. MARTIN'S "Kid Healthy Ideas" store tours reinforce nutrition and healthy living lessons taught in local schools. These fieldtrips are fun and kid-friendly and give teachers an interactive way to help children make healthier choices in their every day eating habits. For more information, visit www.martinsfoods.com and click on Healthy Ideas, Free Field Trips.

About GIANT/MARTIN'S

The Giant-Carlisle Division of Ahold USA, headquartered in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is a leading supermarket chain in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia with grocery stores operating under the names of GIANT Food Stores and MARTIN'S Food Markets. GIANT and MARTIN'S are proud to work with hundreds of local organizations in the communities they serve and have a long-standing commitment to eradicate hunger and improve the quality of life for children. For more information, visit www.GiantFoodStores.com and www.MartinsFoods.com.