To aid in the early detection of heart disease and help prevent its spread in the first place,  Spartan Stores is working with General Mills during the month of September in an education and product promotion program to encourage healthy lifestyles and eating habits.

Pharmacies at all D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare, Felpausch, and Glen's stores will run the month-long program, which include heart-healthy assessment screenings; education about heart healthy food products and healthy eating; product samples and coupons; cards to help customers track their screening results; pedometer giveaways; and chances to win $100 gift cards. Some stores now through September 26 will also offer blood pressure, hypertension, and pulse-rate checks.

"Early detection of heart disease is vital to the prevention of serious long-term heart complications, and potentially fatal events," said Eddie Garcia, director pharmacy of Spartan Stores. "The number one method of early detection is a cholesterol screening."

The product portion of the program will highlight General Mills products such as MultiGrain Cheerios, Yoplait Yo-Plus, Yoplait Fiber One, and Green Giant vegetables. The program will offer samples at Glen's locations offering the heart healthy assessment screenings, Spartan said.

The nation's tenth largest grocery distributor with warehouse facilities in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Michigan, Spartan Stores supplies some 400 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio; and also owns and operates 84 supermarkets in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, and Felpausch Food Centers.