Customers of Northern and NorthMart all across Canada have been eating healthier, thanks to a recent program launched by The North West Company. Health Happy, a program that makes healthy food products more accessible, has led to a 20% increase in the consumption of healthier products.

Health Happy launched in all 132 Northern and NorthMart stores across Canada in September 2017, to expand the variety of healthy food options available to customers. Each store now has between 300 and 800 Health Happy items available, depending on store size.

Each Health Happy item was carefully evaluated to ensure it met one to four specific attributes that contribute to healthier eating: lower sugar, salt, fat and caffeine content. The items were then marked with a signature Health Happy smile, making it quick and easy to identify healthy alternatives.

“We have seen a tremendous response to the Health Happy program since our launch,” said Edward Kennedy, President & CEO, The North West Company. “Health Happy clearly aligns with northern shoppers wanting to embrace a healthy lifestyle, and it reflects our efforts to ensure Health Happy items are comparably priced to the national brand and that options are available in every food category,” said Kennedy.

“A great recent example is our new ‘Best Value Reduced Sugar Drink Crystals’ with 50% less sugar, 50% fewer calories and 50% less shipping weight. This first-of-its-kind product was spearheaded by our buying team working in collaboration with the manufacturer, and will remove an estimated 200,000 lbs. of sugar from children’s diets in the North this year,” added Kennedy.