Hannaford HQ to Get O'Naturals Restaurant Kiosk

SCARBOROUGH -- Hannaford Supermarkets' corporate headquarters here will debut a kiosk from restaurant operator O'Naturals in late February, the grocer's corporate spokeswoman, Caren Epstein, told Progressive Grocer yesterday.

The combination of the country's first natural and organic quick-service restaurant chain and the retailer that devised the innovative "Guiding Stars" nutrition navigation system is a natural one, the two companies said.

"I'm a great admirer of Hannaford's Guiding Stars system, which provides shoppers with what they need most: an efficient, easy-to-understand guide to the healthiest foods," said organic yogurt maker Stonyfield Farm president Gary Hirshberg, originator of the O’Naturals concept, in a statement. "Now we're returning the favor, by providing delicious, nutritious O'Naturals lunch and snack items to Hannaford staff. It's a great match."

"There are clear synergies between O'Naturals and Hannaford around nutritious food," noted Epstein. "This is a great opportunity for our associates to enjoy O'Naturals signature flatbread sandwiches in our cafeteria."

Hannaford's 1,000 HQ employees will soon be able to enjoy O'Naturals flatbread sandwiches to start with. Among the menu items available at other locations are pizza, soups, tossed salads, Asian noodles, kids' meals, fresh baked goods, and, where permitted by law, microbrewed beer and wine. Ingredients are natural, organic, local, or wild.

"Offering O'Naturals flatbread sandwiches is a tangible way to promote health and wellness among our associates," observed Epstein. "And our associates can enjoy the sandwiches without having to drive to Portland, saving both time and gas."

"Opening O'Naturals at Hannaford’s headquarters is a wonderful fit," said O’Naturals c.o.o. Jay Friedlander. "Both companies are committed to supporting their communities and providing tasty, nutritious food for everyone. Given Hannaford’s recent organic certification, it is a logical move for them to offer O'Naturals selections in their corporate cafeteria."

The kiosk is one of the first locations resulting from the partnership formed earlier this year by O'Naturals, Compass Group, and Compass Group’s local franchisee, Canteen Service Co. O'Naturals cafeteria stations and kiosks are scheduled to roll out at Compass client locations across the United States.

O'Naturals has three company-owned locations, Portland and Falmouth, Maine, and Acton, Mass., with franchise locations in Wichita, Kan. and Orlando, Fla. Additional locations are being developed in South and North Carolina.

There are no plans at present to roll out O'Naturals kiosks in Hannaford stores, Epstein told PG.

Delhaize-owned Hannaford employs 27,000 associates and operates 165 stores in the northeastern United States.

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