Retail Dietitians Business Alliance Releases Results Of First Salary Survey For Retail RDs

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) today announced the results of the first salary survey for retail dietitians. The study reveals average salaries, compensation satisfaction and provides additional career information as it pertains to retail dietitians. Currently, there are more than 600 retail registered dietitians throughout the US that most often work in supermarkets helping shoppers and employees make food and nutrition choices that meet their families' health and wellness needs.

"Retailers realize that retail dietitians are an integral part of the store experience and can boost sales exponentially while also creating customer loyalty," says Phil Lempert, CEO and president of the RDBA. "This salary survey is the first of its kind and provides valuable information for dietitians, their employers and those who are interested in this as a career. We are grateful to the RDBA members who participated." 

Survey highlights include:

• 75% of retail dietitians have an annual salary between $41,000 and $70,000;
• 56% of retail dietitians have a bonus structure significantly higher than the 8% of RDs in other fields; 20% of retail RDs receive stock options and 30% the opportunity to participate in employee stock purchase programs.
• Average salaries between store, regional and corporate RDs have an approximate $10,000 difference with store RDs paid less than corporate RDs;
• At the time the survey was taken, no retail RDs carried the Vice President title. As health and wellness continues to drive business at retail, we will see dietitians having stronger leadership roles in the retail industry;
• Retail dietitians' rank their satisfaction with compensation a 6.0 on a 1-10 scale.
• There is a difference in compensation satisfaction based on corporate titles with Directors being the most satisfied followed by Managers, Dietitians then Nutritionists. Those who have worked in the retail setting 10 or more years have higher rates of satisfaction.

"This is an important discussion point for our members," says Lempert. "Perhaps the retail dietitians need to better integrate into the company by taking a corporate title that aligns with their position and responsibilities. This could potentially increase overall job and compensation satisfaction as having a corporate title such as director may come with other perks such as stock options."

In addition, the number of stores in the retail chain appeared to have an impact on compensation satisfaction. RDs employed by retailers with 500 or more stores were the least satisfied with their compensation with a rating of 5.1, compared to those at retailers with 100-500 stores (5.7), retailers with less than 50 stores (6.6), and those at retailers with 50-100 stores (7.1).

Lempert says employers need to take note of this. "Like any company, employee retention is important and as more retailers want a dietitian in every store, their demand will increase and an unhappy RD will move on to another employer."

Many retailers are hiring retail dietitians for each store as there's a direct return on investment. Caroline Passerrello, a corporate dietitian with Giant Eagle says their customers spend five-to-seven percent more after meeting with a dietitian.

"What first began as an offering in a special health food section of the store is now integrated throughout the store," says Passerrello. "We're looking to innovate again, to combine technology with personalization. Putting a sign with nutritional information on the shelf is nice, but you may not be interested in that information. We want to help personalize nutritional advice for our customers as they shop."

The RDBA serves as the professional group to the more than 600 retail dietitians throughout the US that most often work in Supermarkets. RDBA is the first to offer a retail business education programs for registered dietitians that helps these professionals better understand the business of retail including trends, merchandising, working with suppliers and more. In addition to online and in-person training at key events, RDBA offers opportunities through its newsletter, website, and special events for the community of retailers and dietitians to share information. RDBA members represent more than 11,000 grocery stores.

The survey results are only available to RDBA members and their Human Resources Department.

For more information about the survey, please contact RDBA Executive Director Annette Maggi, MS, RDN, LD, FAND at [email protected]. To join RDBA, please visit the website at www.RetailDietitians.com.

SOURCE RDBA

Related Links

http://www.RetailDietitians.com