Q: How many restaurants are participating?
A: As of April 2009, 20 restaurants with 200 locations are fully on board (meaning they have fully launched and implemented the program), but we are working with several other restaurants and agencies in other states interested in implementing the program.
Q: What are other restaurants in the program doing?
A: McDonald’s, a quick-serve, national chain restaurant, promotes certain items (such as salads) on a seasonal level, while other Smart Meal™ combinations (hamburger with side salad) are on the menu year-round. Beau Jo’s Pizza is using the Smart Meal™ Seal to promote all the items on the menu that fit that program’s criteria.
Q: Why should we participate in this program?
A: There are many benefits to participating in the program, but the main reasons for you as a business are that you will have the opportunity to increase business and gain recognition for your efforts. You will have free promotion as a restaurant that cares about the health of its consumers, and you will be participating in an initiative to address the increasing overweight and obesity problem in Colorado. You will be seen as a community leader in this effort.
Q: How do we know this program won’t fade out or disappear?
A: This restaurant initiative is in our State Plan through 2010, and will also be included as a component of our 2020 state plan draft. We are committed to the successful execution of this program.
Q: How do we get started?
A: Once you have decided that you would like to become a partner restaurant, complete the online inquiry form in the Contact Us section of the website www.smartmealcolorado.com. In addition, you must provide a summary of the proposed action plan for implementing the Smart Meal™ program, including your method of evaluation.
Q: What is the cost to the restaurant?
A: Typically, if a restaurant uses one of our recommended analysis companies (e.g., On the Menu), they will receive a discount as a potential Smart Meal™ participant. The average cost per recipe/meal analyzed is $90, which includes all of the labor, technical assistance, full nutritional labeling for the recipe plus suggested recipe modifications to meet standards. Other costs would include reprinting of the existing menu to reflect the identified Smart Meal™ items and/or printing of menu inserts if the restaurant is not yet ready to print new menus.
Q: What kind of publicity will we receive?
A: The COPAN program is seeking additional funds to conduct a social marketing campaign to be launched in 2010. In addition, there will be statewide publicity through the state's media releases, promotion through the Smart Meal™ website, promotion through the LiveWell Colorado website (www.livewellcolorado.com), and any promotion you do in your own advertising efforts.
Q: When will the media coverage happen?
A: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment prefers to distribute press releases for large events 2-3 times per year. These will be done when coverage and participation is the highest. This means that there may not be a press release occurring when a restaurant begins participating in the program, but there will be a press release in the near future.