Career Development

Amy Peterson from Coborn's sounds off on a new skill she mastered in 2020.

In 2020, the retail environment and the role of the retail dietitian has significantly changed. It remains to be seen which of these changes will be temporary or long-term. During this session at the RDBA Virtual Experience, RDBA Executive Director Annette Maggi, MS, RDN, LD, FAND addressed how dietitians can thrive in the current and post-pandemic retail environment.

One of the highlights during a conference or business trip was to connect with industry colleagues. These relationships are vital to our work as we exchange ideas, share best practices and bond over common issues within the retail environment. These times, however, call for different measures if we want to stay connected. Here are some suggestions for adapting to this new environment to keep those relationships strong:

I’m a superfan of LinkedIn and use it frequently to find contacts at potential client companies, engage in industry dialog, connect with other professionals, and position myself as a thought leader on topics that matter to me. As a superfan, I’m always stunned when I don’t find profiles for retail RDs.

Here’s why job titles matter:

Retail dietitians and pharmacists bring distinct nutrition and medicinal services to supermarkets that raise their value as better-for-you destinations.

The Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) is always a whirlwind of events and sessions. If you’re planning on attending FNCE in Philadelphia PA next month there are a number of exciting educational sessions that may be helpful to your work as a retail dietitian. Here is a list to help you make the most of this year’s conference:

Many people talk about your brand and your reputation as interchangeable terms but your brand is only a piece of what forms your entire reputation. Your brand is what you stand for and how you approach your work. You have control over your brand because you can decide what you want to do and how you want to do it so you leave a positive impression. Your reputation, on the other hand, is what people remember and share about you. Consider the following advice for developing and maintaining an outstanding reputation:

Retailers love customers who actively recommend the products and/or services found at their store(s) and these “engaged customers” can play a critical role in the long-term profitability of companies. This pattern of customer activity is based on commitment, loyalty and positive word-of-mouth. But how do you, as a retail dietitian, get shoppers to become your ally and provide positive testimonials? And more importantly, how can you leverage meaningful customer interactions to help show management your value? Here are a few tips:

Many of the topics presented in May at the Retail Dietitian Exchange have relevancy for a broad audience within the profession, and RDBA is pleased to announce that two of the event sessions are now available on video. Descriptions of and access to the videos are provided here: