
Healthy Corner Stores
Public Health works with neighborhood corner stores to provide healthier food choices for the community they serve.
N.C. Healthy Food Retail Designation
The North Carolina Healthy Food Retail Designation (NCHFRD) program recognizes small food stores that meet product criteria established by the N.C. Healthy Food Retail Collaborative. This designation is important in creating healthier communities because people who live where healthy foods are easy to find are more likely to have lower risk of disease. Any small food store in North Carolina that meets the designation criteria is eligible to receive a "Healthy Food Sold Here" certificate of designation and a door decal.
Each small grocery store is unique; stores located in different communities or neighborhoods may require different approaches. Among the 6 criteria a store needs to meet to receive the North Carolina health food retail designation is to have a minimum quantity of mixed fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy/milk (1% or 2% cow's milk or soy milk). For more information about the requirements that the store needs to acquire the NCHFRD certificate, contact: Emma Leon at [email protected].
The N.C. Healthy Food Retail Toolkit is available to help small food stores with increasing their healthy options and help them apply for the NC Healthy Food Retail Designation.
2023 Refrigerator Program
The Mecklenburg County Health Department has expanded the refrigerator program in corner stores with the North Carolina Healthy Retail Designation to incentivize small neighborhood stores in food insecure locations to increase their healthy options. See the list of seven stores below that have received a refrigerator to stock fresh fruits and vegetables:
La Luna Tienda Latina LLC 4832 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Rodriguez Supermarket 1409 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, NC 28205
Tienda Latina Los Arcos 2506 W. Sugar Creek Road, Charlotte NC 28262
Frutería El Barrio #2 1401 Eastway Dr NC 28205
La Corona Meat Market 6320 N. Tryon St., Suite F Charlotte, NC 28213
Mi Tiendita Mini Market 2853 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, NC 28205
Monroe Convenience Store 4726 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205

Other Local Corner Stores that have the N.C. Healthy Food Retail Designation
Byrum's Food Mart Inc 1727 Oakdale Rd NC 28216
Davidson Convenience Store 624 N. Davidson St NC 28202
El Rincon Catracho 2125 Eastway Dr NC 28205
El Tigre #2 5025 North Tryon St, Suite #8 NC 28213
Frutería El Barrio 118 Tom Hunter Rd, Suite C NC 28213
Hawl-Hang LLC. 4600 Monroe Rd NC 28205
La Corona Meat Market 6320 North Tryon St, Suite F, NC 28213
La Acapulqueňa 4709 Tuckaseegee Rd NC 28208
La Estrella Market 7701 Sharon Lakes Rd, Suite E- F NC 28210
La Romero Market 6301 South Blvd NC 28217
La Unica Supermarket 5938 South Blvd NC 28217
Mi Tiendita Mini Market 2853 Eastway Dr NC 28205
Monroe Convenience Store 4726 Monroe Rd NC 28205
Oriental Food Market 4816 – B Central Ave NC 28205
OT Foods Inc 3600 Tuckaseegee Rd NC 28208
Shop N Go 1601 Remount Rd NC 28208
Skyline Superette 1725 Statesville Ave NC 28206
Supermercado El Rey 6300 South Blvd NC 28217
Related Services
The following resources were obtained from NC State Extension, which provide best practices for preparing for COVID-19 and managing risk for people at home and in food settings such as restaurants, supermarkets, food banks, gardens, corner stores and farms. These resources are based on guidance and best practices outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Download and print these posters and flyers to educate Healthy Corner Store staff and customers on how to stay safe from Covid-19.