Transforming the Marketplace

S. Abraham & Sons

2018 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2017
Length of Commitment: 3 years
Select a Progress Report:

Committed to increasing the availability of affordable, nutritious options, modifying its line of sandwiches and salads to meet PHA’s Healthier Food and Beverage Criteria and introducing SAS-sponsored employee wellness programs.

Verified Results

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Create and regularly update a list of products that meet the PHA Healthier Food and Beverage Criteria or PHA Healthier Recipe Criteria; identify such products with PHA logo and/or other icon

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons has created a PHA order guide containing 164 products that meet PHA Healthier Food and Beverage Product Criteria.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2020

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Create a specific PHA Header and Planogram for 3-foot endcap (potentially with kid-friendly options) and mobile merchandiser rack with 100% of items meeting PHA Healthier Food and Beverage Criteria

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons developed a "Whole Lot Better" header, planogram, shelf dangler, and shelf strip sheet for a 3-foot endcap and mobile merchandiser rack. "Whole Lot Better" identifies products that meet PHA Healthier Food and Beverage Product Criteria and 100% of the 32 products in the designated endcap meet the criteria. The header also promotes the FNV marketing campaign.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Develop new quarterly Pacesetter program in which at least 1 to 3 items meet PHA Healthier Food and Beverage Criteria; S. Abraham & Sons' entire customer base will receive information about the program

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons introduced a new, rebranded Pacesetter program, "Whole Lot Better" Auto-Ship, which will automatically ship top-selling food and beverage items that meet PHA's Healthier Food and Beverage Criteria to enrolled customers quarterly. Healthier products began shipping through the program in August of 2018.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Through relationship with commissary, modify existing line of sandwiches and subs (and any future additions) so that by year 1, a minimum of 10% of menu items containing grains will use whole grain as the default grain option.

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons exceeded its goal with 36% of menu items containing grain using whole grain as the default grain option. Following the reformulation of its sandwich bread in August of 2018, eight out of twenty-two grab and go sandwich options now feature whole grain sandwich bread.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2020

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Through relationship with commissary, modify a line salads such that 25% meet PHA Healthier Recipe criteria at any given time

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons is making progress toward their goal that 25% of salad offerings meet PHA's Healthier Recipe Criteria. As of September 2018, one out of eight, or 12%, of salad options meet the criteria.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Add a module for Sales training regarding PHA commitment; ensure relevant PHA updates are included in ongoing trainings

    Progress To Date

    S. Abrahams and Sons makes information related to the PHA commitment available on its internal online storage system, Solo. Marketing and promotional materials and handouts are also distributed via email and reviewed at each district sales meeting.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Establish a sales volume or distribution drive goal with quarterly frequency around items that meet PHA Healthier Food & Beverage or Recipe criteria

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons established a Distribute Drive for sales reps in June 2018 encouraging promotion and sales of two products that meet PHA Healthier Food and Beverage Criteria. First and second place top selling reps in each sales district receive a cash incentive.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Commit a front-quartile one or two pages of each monthly planner with deals on healthier items and marketing information to help the retailer bring these items to the forefront in their location; highlight any healthier items throughout monthly planner

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons dedicates at least one full page of each Monthly Planner to feature a product that meets PHA's Healthier Food and Beverage Criteria.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Highlight one item that meets PHA Healthier Food & Beverage or Recipe criteria per week in internal and external newsletters with order code

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons promotes a "PHA Item of the Week" that meets PHA Healthier Food and Beverage Product Criteria in each "On the Shelf" weekly newsletter.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Create a two-sided 'SAS Top SKUs by volume' PHA tear-pad.

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons developed a two-page tear pad featuring Top Shelf SKUs for 41 products that meet PHA Healthier Food and Beverage Product Criteria.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Suggest a retail pricing in Monthly Marketing Program for a quarterly PHA bundle

    Progress To Date

    No update provided.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Maintain four different SAS-sponsored wellness programs throughout the year which are centered around being more active and healthy where employees can win prizes. i. Through 'Walk the Talk' program, distribute information about PHA's Move to Improve Challenge to employees & get executive leadership involvement; promote PHA as charity of choice on Charity Miles moving forward

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons maintains quarterly wellness programs that encourage employees to lead active, healthy lifestyles. 96 employees participated in the most recent "Summer Sweat" wellness program. During "Summer Sweat," employees were encouraged to track physical activity using the Charity Miles app. Participating employees qualified to win a weekly raffle prize and received wellness points toward their health insurance incentive program.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Incorporate wellness messaging into marlin board with quarterly frequency

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons provides health and wellness education to employees via its digital Marlin board. Wellness messages rotate with, at least, quarterly frequency throughout the year.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Place Drink Up collateral near filtered water in all facilities (warehouse, distribution center, HQ breakroom and meeting spaces)

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons promotes Drink Up by placing signage at all filtered water locations with the warehouse, distribution center, headquarters breakroom and meeting spaces.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Ensure that a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of vending machines options in corporate office and two warehouses meet Choice Plus criteria. Place Drink Up collateral by vending machines.

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons has met its commitment to offer a minimum of 50% of vending machine options that meet Choice Plus Criteria at its corporate office and warehouses. Additionally, Drink Up collateral is featured on all vending machines.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    Implement and distribute to all teammates responsible for catering a healthier food catering guide for corporate meetings and events.

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Associates has met its commitment by developing the SAS Catering Guide and distributing the guide to all Vice Presidents and Human Resource employees responsible for catering corporate meetings and events. The guide includes required language promoting fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean proteins, whole grains and healthier beverages.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    By 2018, add the S. Abraham & Sons-PHA partnership information and Healthier Campus Initiative to marketing materials for university/college customers

    Progress To Date

    S. Abraham and Sons has met its commitment by distributing Healthier Campus Initiative information to customers at all college campuses and by creating marketing materials to help customers identify healthier options. Marketing materials outline the PHA commitment and instruct customers on how to select and promote options that meet PHA criteria including the PHA Order Guide, PHA Top SKUs tear-pad, Better For You planograms, monthly promotions, healthier Grab and Go and the Better For You Auto Ship program.

  • Implementation Date

    May 2018

    Reporting Date

    June 2018

    Commitment Element

    By 2018, facilitate introductions between PHA and current 8 university/college and any new university/college customers to pursue partnership via Healthier Campus Initiative

    Progress To Date

    No update provided.

Partner Statement

“Through our collaboration with PHA, steady progress has been made towards reaching the goals of bringing awareness and usable tools aimed at increasing healthier options in the convenience store marketplace. SAS has enhanced the Fruit Ridge Farms fresh sandwich line to include a whole grain option, developed a branded endcap featuring PHA approved top skus and promotes a bundle of PHA approved items in our Monthly Marketing Planner. These are just a few of the ways SAS assists our retailers in marketing items within their stores to increase sales.

"We are confident these marketing efforts will encourage retailers to invest in healthier options and impact consumers positively over time.”