Now your shoppers can feel ever better about choosing beef – the American Heart Association has certified extra-lean beef cuts that meet its criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol*. This certification allows participating retailers to display the American Heart Association's powerful Heart-Check mark on fresh beef packages, promoting beef's role in a healthy diet and driving nutrition-conscious shoppers to the meat case.
Why should our company participate?
Which cuts are currently certified with the Beef Checkoff trade association certification?
How do I get started?
What resources are available?
What are the potential benefits?
How have other retailers successfully launched the program?
Beef Up Your Bottom Line
The American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark is a proven traffic driver. In-store sales data reveals that the Heart-Check mark boosts incremental sales an average of 5 percent when certified products are highlighted with supporting POS and merchandising.
- More than 83% of consumers have an added awareness of the Heart-Check mark.
- Nearly 75% of shoppers say the Heart-Check mark improves the likelihood that they will purchase a product.
- After seeing an American Heart Association promotion, 45% of shoppers look for the Heart-Check mark on products.
Help Your Customers Be Heart-Smart
You play a key role in influencing shoppers and your customers rely on you for information that helps them make informed, nutritious decisions. By combining the respected reputation and powerful brand awareness of the American Heart Association with great-tasting, nutrient-rich extra lean beef that consumers know and love, certification gives qualifying cuts a competitive point of difference in a crowded meat case.
Meet the Newest Members of the Heart-Check Mark Family
Four fresh beef cuts are now certified to display the coveted Heart-Check mark, signifying they meet the American Heart Association's criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol:
Boneless Top Sirloin Petite Roast (USDA Select quality grade)
Top Sirloin Filet (USDA Select quality grade)
Top Sirloin Kabob (USDA Select quality grade)
Top Sirloin Stir-Fry (USDA Select quality grade)
These four cuts are only the start, as we plan to continue adding extra lean beef choices to the list of American Heart Association-certified cuts. With other beef cuts already meeting government guidelines for lean, the future is bright for building sales and raising awareness of the positive role that beef, America's favorite protein, plays in a healthful, delicious diet.
Get Involved in a Heart Beat
By working with the Beef Checkoff Program, retailers can enjoy simplified participation in the American Heart Association Food Certification Program and experience significant cost-savings. The set-up fee is waived, and participation cost per product is reduced to $1,000/year.
There are three easy steps to participate:
- Complete the company application form and submit through NCBA.
- NCBA will submit the application form to the American Heart Association for processing.
- The American Heart Association will work closely with each retailer throughout the product submittal, payment and promotion review processes.
Upon approval of your certification application, you may display the Heart-Check mark on food packaging or in advertising and promotions. Any promotional materials that include the Heart-Check mark or mention certification must be reviewed by the American Heart Association.
Product lab tests are not required for product applications.
Turning Insight into Action
In the toolbox to the right, you’ll find the program elements to appeal to your health-minded customers and boost beef sales. Cutting videos, on-pack labels and point-of-sale materials which can be purchased for use upon certification.
Program Benefits
- Leverage the marketing power of one of the most trusted icons on food packaging today
- Reinforce the power of extra lean beef and create added awareness of lean beef cuts
- Appeal to health-minded shoppers and demonstrate that you care about their food choices
- Support from the Beef Checkoff retail marketing team throughout the American Heart Association Food Certification application process
Retailer Spotlights
A recent in-market test with two select retailers, a middle-America grocery chain and a regional grocery chain across the Southeast, evaluated the impact of our American Heart Association Certification program elements on consumer awareness and shopping behaviors. This study found consumers very receptive to spotlighting cuts with an American Heart Association certifi¬cation on-pack.
A summary of the in-market test can be found in the toolbox to the right.
*Based on 4 oz raw/ 3 oz cooked (as product packaged)
Source: The Beef Checkoff