Mac's has Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Check entrees

Healthy options added to convenient grab-&-go menu

VANCOUVER, Feb. 28, 2012 /CNW/ - The Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Check program and Mac's Convenience Stores are helping British Columbians be healthy on the go. In an innovative pilot project, Mac's Convenience Stores is offering three Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Check entrees in all of its 57 British Columbia locations.  These grab-and-go options identified with the Health Check logo will make it easier for hurried consumers to make a healthy choice.

"We are pleased that Mac's stores are offering healthy options to their customers," says Diego Marchese, CEO, BC & Yukon, Heart and Stroke Foundation. "We know people want to eat healthy but they are often pressed for time and this is one more way we can help them make healthy choices wherever they are."

Healthy Families BC strongly supports such initiatives as part of its healthy eating strategy.

"Making the healthy option the easy choice will help families eat better while they are on the go," said Health Minister Michael de Jong. "I congratulate Mac's Convenience Stores and thank them for following through on commitment to support our Healthy Families BC program."

Mac's will be featuring three entrees produced by Mava Foods, a Richmond based company that prides itself on providing its customers with healthy, locally-sourced fresh foods.  The entrees which meet the Health Check criteria include:

• Szechuan Beef with Vegetables and Rice
• Hearty Alberta Beef Stew
• Curry Vegetable Stew with Tofu and Rice

"Being able to provide these healthy and tasty options at our stores is very exciting," says Kelly McGuire, Vice President Operations, Western Canada, Mac's Convenience Stores. "We're pleased to offer healthy convenient ready-to-eat foods as another option for busy families."

Quick Facts:

• Mac's is part of the Healthy Convenience Store initiative launched in August 2011; it is collaboration between the Province of British Columbia and the Western Convenience Store Association (WCSA).
• In Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association's 2011 Canadian Chef Survey, nutrition and health is ranked third in the Top 10 Hot Trends.
• The Food Marketing Institute's report 2010 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends shows that 47 percent of shoppers are interested in freshly prepared, heat-and-serve food to take home

About Mac's Convenience Stores Inc
Mac's Convenience Stores Inc. is part of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., who is the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. In North America, Couche-Tard is the second largest independent convenience store operator in terms of number of stores. Couche-Tard currently operates a network of 5,906 convenience stores which include 4,128 motor fuel dispensing, located in eleven large geographic markets, including eight in the United States covering 43 states and three in Canada covering all ten provinces. Some 53,000 people are employed throughout Couche-Tard's retail convenience network and executive offices.

About Health Check
Health Check is one way the Heart and Stroke Foundation helps Canadians make healthy choices. All Health Check items meet nutrient criteria developed by the Foundation's registered dietitians based on recommendations in Canada's Food Guide. Health Check works directly with food companies and restaurants to improve the food supply by challenging them to meet stronger nutrient criteria and offer Canadians more healthy choices. Health Check is the only non-profit, independent, and neutral food information program in the country. For more information on Health Check as well as healthy eating resources, tips and recipes visit healthcheck.org.

About Healthy Families BC
Healthy Families BC is a $68.7 million initiative that supports healthy eating, healthy lifestyles, helping families and communities make healthy choices and giving the most vulnerable B.C. children a healthy start in life.

For further information:

Ministry of Health
[phone] (media line)

Stephanie Lawrence
Health Check Program
[phone] ext 351
[email protected]

Doug Hartl
Mac's Convenience Stores
(403) 974‐5400ext. 378
[email protected]