Memramcook Community Arena

The community arena in Memramcook is a hub for residents looking to get fit and have some fun; however, some local citizens noticed that although the facilities themselves promoted wellness and healthy living, the food offered in the cafeteria didn’t always do the same. So a group of concerned individuals took it upon themselves to try and make a difference.

Because the cafeteria is privately owned and not run by the municipality, they needed to convince the owners to look at healthier menu options before taking any further steps. Although ownership was open to the suggestion, they required a plan so as not to end up with new inventory that nobody was interested in purchasing. A dietitian, wellness coordinator and others met extensively to plan menu options, and then ran a market study, eventually discovering that fricots, sandwiches and smoothies were top choices. Planning then began for a launch of the new menu items.

One year after the launch, the initiative has proven to be a huge success. The new, healthier offerings are hugely popular, outselling some less-healthy items that had previously been top-sellers. The group has plans to offer even more healthy choices going into 2013, and the feedback from arena-goers has been tremendously positive.