The petition has just reached 1,500 supporters who want healthy checkout aisles in Meijer stores! THANK YOU Andrew M. for being number 1,500!!! And with the hand-written signatures I and the wonderful RoxAnn L. have collected, it comes to 1,535! As a result, I will be mailing the petition to Meijer’s Chief Executive Officer, Rick Keyes, urging him to adopt healthy checkout aisles in all Meijer stores. I am also requesting to speak with his staff about implementing healthy checkout aisles at Meijer and to respond to this request by June 6, 2017. I believe how Meijer responds to the petition and to the request will say a lot about what is truly valued at Meijer. I’m hoping that it’s a response which reflects their commitment to helping customers lead healthier lives, as they now have 1,535 customers who are directly asking them to do so. Earlier this year, Frank Guglielmi, senior director of communications at Meijer, stated in a Meijer press release in response to the petition that, "Millions of customers come to Meijer each week and our goal is to ensure our offerings appeal to the needs of a very broad and diverse customer base. We are proud of the healthy choices we offer throughout our stores, as well as the fact that our customers can count on us for all of their shopping needs, whatever their buying preference." If checkout aisles are considered to be part of the store, healthy choices are NOT being offered throughout the store, and therefore the needs and preferences of those who want healthy food choices are NOT being met. Nor are the needs of children who would greatly benefit from age-appropriate reading material. The 1,535 supporters of this petition and our children are certainly a part of Meijer’s “broad and diverse customer base”. If Meijer is indeed proud of the healthy choices they offer THROUGHOUT the store, it is now time for them to offer healthy choices at checkout. If you are interested, please contact your local news agency to request that they report on Meijer’s response to the petition. You can also share news and related articles through the petition Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/healthycheckouts/) or Twitter (@JaneMKramer). Thank you ALL for signing, for sharing your comments, and for letting your voices be heard! Respectfully, Jane Kramer