Guiding Stars to Launch Nation s First School Nutritional Navigation System in January

SCARBOROUGH, Maine-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The highly regarded Guiding Stars nutritional navigation system – now available in more than 1,400 grocery stores – will launch the first ever school nutritional rating system in Maine School Administrative District 75 (MSAD 75).

Guiding Stars Licensing Co. (GSLC), in partnership with MSAD 75, will rate prepared meals, snacks, salad bar and grab-and-go items according to their nutritional value. Each item rated will receive zero to three stars for an at-a-glance analysis of the food’s nutritional content.

“We’re looking to make nutritious choices simple, practical and fun and are thrilled to bring this program to middle and high school age students for the first time” says John Eldredge, Director of Brand & Business Development at Guiding Stars Licensing Company. “Guiding Stars is a natural fit for school food service programs, and we’re committed to being a part of the broader public health solution.”

The science-based Guiding Stars system was the first of its kind when implemented in select grocery stores in September 2006 in response to consumer demand for a simple, easy-to-understand tool for making good nutritional choices as they shop. The Guiding Stars program is now on shelf tags and signage in grocery stores throughout the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Florida.

The rating system utilizes an extensive proprietary database and credits all edible foods based on the presence of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and whole grains, and debits for the presence of trans fat, saturated fats, cholesterol, added sugars and added sodium. Food items are then awarded zero, one, two or three stars – one star means good nutritional value; two stars, better nutritional value; and three stars, the best nutritional value.

Moe St. Pierre, School Food Service Director at MSAD 75, and Mary Booth, District Health Coordinator, have been working with Guiding Stars Licensing Company’s program to help students make healthy food choices.

“This is all about health education,” says Booth. “The cafeteria can provide a lot of opportunities to educate students. Our food service program already posts calorie information on nutrition boards at Mt. Ararat middle and high schools, but calories are only part of the picture. Guiding Stars will give students more information to easily identify the foods with the greatest nutritional value.”

Another benefit of the pilot will be the consistency of seeing Guiding Stars both in schools and their local grocery stores. Students and their families can talk about nutritious food choices based on information that is comprehensive, accurate, and easy to use and understand.

About Guiding Stars Licensing Co.

Guiding Stars Licensing Co., based in Scarborough, Maine, is currently in more than 1,400 supermarkets up and down the East Coast including 1,177 Food Lion Stores in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, 167 Hannaford locations in the Northeast and 108 Sweetbay stores in central and western Florida. The program is supported by a 10-person team with significant food retail, IT, customer service and marketing experience. Additional information can be found at www.guidingstars.com.

Cone Inc.

Jordan Salvatoriello, 617-939-8307

jsal@coneinc.com