MINNEAPOLIS —Target is going on a health kick, aimed at its customers and employees. The chain will push granola bars and healthy grab-and-go snacks over candy at the checkout and hand out free basic activity trackers from Fitbit Inc. to its more than 300,000 employees as part of the effort. The retailer is trying to reinvent its image as a promoter of wellness for employees and customers under new CEO Brian Cornell, who came on board in August 2014.
Consumers have been learning about healthy eating habits for decades and are placing more of an emphasis on living longer, noted Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst for NPD Group. Health foods also offer higher profit margins to retailers, Cohen noted.
Target shoppers who still want a junk-food fix shouldn’t fret. Candy bars and chips are not going away. “They don’t want us to be too preachy,” said Christina Hennington, Target’s senior vice president of merchandising.
