WOONSOCKET, R.I., June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS/pharmacy today announced a chain-wide effort to make it easier for customers to make health-conscious decisions when shopping for food and snacks with the launch of Gold Emblem Abound. Rolling out immediately, CVS/pharmacy is introducing the new brand of snack products which includes more than 40 wholesome items that are free from artificial flavors and preservatives. Gold Emblem Abound gives CVS/pharmacy customers an abundance of affordable, convenient, healthier snack options to choose from at more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy locations nationwide.

"We are excited and very proud to introduce the Gold Emblem Abound brand of healthier snacks and grocery items to our customers.We developed the line to taste great and help people on their path to better health," said George Coleman, Vice President of Merchandising, Store Brands and Quality Assurance, CVS/pharmacy. "We are confident that our customers will love the products as much as we do."

Gold Emblem Abound offers customers a range of snacks including, snack bars, trail mixes, dried fruit, popcorn and rice chips. Each product in the line is free of artificial flavors and preservatives and contains no trans fats. Additionally, Gold Emblem Abound includes products that are gluten free certified, sodium free, cholesterol free and contain sources of protein, fiber, omega-3s, probiotic cultures and potassium. The line also includes champion ingredients such as superfood chia and superfood baobab, enabling consumers to purchase snacks with additional health benefits at an affordable price.

Nutritional benefits are clearly identified on the instantly-recognizable bright green packaging. The line offers tasty, high-quality snack options at affordable prices ranging from $2.19 to $10.99 and reinforces the importance of taking small, everyday steps to meet individual health goals. CVS/pharmacy guarantees satisfaction with all of its store brand lines, offering a 100 percent money back guarantee.

According to the International Food Information Council Foundation, health was cited as a top consideration in making food choices by 71 percent of consumers in 2014, up from 61 percent of consumers in 2012.

In addition to the new product line, CVS/pharmacy is also kicking-off an in-store tagging program called Fit Choices, which takes the guesswork out of finding healthier options throughout the consumables department. The new Fit Choices tags guide shoppers in their selection of edible products and allow customers to find items that suit their individual dietary needs, focused around four categories: "Heart Healthy," "Sugar Free," "Gluten Free" and "Organic."

Store items that meet strict nutritional guidelines will be marked on-shelf with one of the four Fit Choices tags. Products tagged as "Organic" will contain at least 95 percent organically-produced ingredients and carry the USDA Organic seal on packaging, while items low in saturated fat and cholesterol will be listed as "Heart Healthy," as these items may reduce the risk of heart disease. Brightly colored signage highlights the ease of making healthier food choices at CVS/pharmacy drugstores nationwide, and allows shoppers to select the appropriate item without having to decipher complex labels.

This new effort complements the recent announcement that CVS/pharmacy will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in its stores this fall, further demonstrating the company's commitment to helping people on their path to better health. By implementing impactful solutions in stores nationwide, CVS/pharmacy is providing expert guidance, cost-effective solutions and convenient access to healthier choices for all customers.

For more information on CVS/pharmacy or to locate a nearby store, please visit CVS.com.

About CVS/pharmacy
CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS), is America's leading retail pharmacy with more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drug stores in the U.S. CVS/pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on their path to better health by providing the most accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and online at CVS.com.http://info.cvscaremark.com/.

SOURCE CVS/pharmacy

distributed by