February Member Spotlight: Andrew Akhaphong 

Provide us with your name, credentials, employer and job title: 

Andrew Akhaphong, RD, LD, Pn1, WMS, CPT; Mackenthun’s Fine Foods; Registered Dietitian Manager

Provide us with a brief description of your job: 

As the sole dietitian for all the stores within Mackenthun’s, I am responsible for upholding the vision of creating an “exceptional experience and promote the health and wellness of our customers and employees”.  I help bridge the gap in nutrition education received at inpatient/outpatient settings and guide customers in their understanding and navigation of the nutrition recommendations based on their culinary, cultural, and product preferences. The grocery stores are my tools for teaching. Along with this I do cooking classes, grocery store tours, assist WIC and SNAP-Ed clients navigate their benefits, food demonstrations, and even provide MNT with private-pay or insurance-based. I also lead the company’s Employee Wellness Committee. My personal training/group fitness background has helped the company develop physical activity programming for employees along with healthy eating incentives and biometric screenings.

What do you love about what you do? 

I started out working a server when I was in high school. I loved being able to meet and serve new people; as well as, learning about their needs and interests. Working in retail as a dietitian offers that, but even so much more. Every day I am constantly learning and staying on top of consumer trends which gives me an advantage over others and how I can better serve the community. Plus, receiving complimentary swag boxes from our food vendors are amazing. I often have the opportunity to try new products before they even hit the market!  The best feeling though is when I can help a customer achieve their goals and see results.

What are the challenges?

The biggest challenge in working retail dietetics is how do you make yourself standout compared to other dietitians in the market? Customers often think about pharmacy in retail settings, because it is a one-stop shop and they do not have to worry bout travelling to another place to grab their medications. With dietitians, people think about the inpatient/outpatient setting for receiving MNT and nutrition education, but not at the grocery retailer. I had to do some gorilla marketing (aggressive, unconventional interactions) in the community to say “Hey, Mackenthun’s has a registered dietitian too!”. It took months of establishing relationships and visiting with doctors, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare members until I started receiving referrals for MNT. I even have the nearby hospital calling me now for alternative nutrition supplements we carry that are allergy-friendly!

How has your MAND membership benefitted you? 

I love that MAND offers so much opportunities for networking and professional development. They are very engaged with members and stays up-to-date on relevant topics. They also help me stay visible to members. Though retail dietetics has been in existence since the 1980’s, it is still a new and curious concept to others. It is exciting to give insight in my field to others. 

What do you think is the future of nutrition and dietetics? 

I believe that the field of nutrition and dietetics is starting to see how important diversity is and what we must do to meet the needs of diverse communities. I always tell my customers, “A diet plan that eliminates your favorite foods, cultural values, and culinary skills is going to result in failure”. I also think as more organizations realize the potential dietitians could bring, it may offer more career opportunities outside of the clinical setting. Did you know many fast food companies have dietitians on staff? That’s pretty exciting!