Our Story

About Supermarket Puzzle

Making grocery shopping smarter through education, transparency, and fun

Our Mission

We believe everyone deserves to understand what's in their food. Supermarket Puzzle empowers shoppers with the knowledge to make informed decisions about the products they buy, using science-backed NOVA classifications and transparent ingredient analysis.

The Problem We're Solving

Modern grocery stores stock thousands of products, but understanding what's actually in them is surprisingly difficult:

  • Ingredient lists are confusing: Chemical names, preservatives, and additives make it hard to know what you're really eating
  • Marketing is misleading: "Natural," "healthy," and "wholesome" labels often hide ultra-processed ingredients
  • Processing levels matter: Two products with similar nutrition facts can have vastly different health impacts based on processing
  • Finding alternatives is time-consuming: Even when you know what to avoid, discovering better options takes hours of research

Our Solution

Supermarket Puzzle is a comprehensive platform that combines education, data, and gamification:

🎮 Interactive Game

Our grocery shopping game teaches you about food processing in a fun, engaging way. Make choices, see instant feedback, and learn why some products are better than others.

📊 NOVA Classifications

Every product is scored 1-4 based on the internationally recognized NOVA food processing system, giving you an instant understanding of how processed a product really is.

🔍 Ingredient Intelligence

We automatically flag concerning ingredients like seed oils, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, emulsifiers, and synthetic dyes—no chemistry degree required.

📚 The Grocery Intelligence Index

Browse 18,000+ products across 98 expert-curated collections. Find products by dietary need, ingredient concern, meal occasion, or specific brand.

✅ Better Alternatives

Every product page suggests healthier alternatives with similar taste, texture, and use case— making it easy to swap out ultra-processed foods.

What Makes Us Different

  • 🔬
    Science-Based: We use the NOVA classification system, developed by researchers and endorsed by health organizations worldwide
  • 🎯
    Real Products: Actual items from Whole Foods, Safeway, Kroger, Foodtown, and other major retailers—not theoretical examples
  • 🚫
    No Affiliate Marketing: We don't sell products or earn commissions. Our only goal is education
  • 🎓
    Educational Focus: We explain WHY certain ingredients matter, helping you make informed decisions for yourself
  • 🎮
    Engaging Format: Learning through gameplay is more effective and memorable than reading nutrition labels

Our Values

🔓 Transparency

We show exactly how products are classified and why. Our methodology is open, and we cite our sources. No hidden agendas.

🧠 Education Over Fear

We don't believe in fear-mongering or extreme diets. We provide information and let you make your own choices based on your values and health goals.

♿ Accessibility

Healthy eating shouldn't require a PhD in nutrition. We make complex information simple, actionable, and available to everyone for free.

📈 Continuous Improvement

Nutritional science evolves, and so do we. We regularly update our database, add new features, and incorporate user feedback.

About the NOVA Food Classification System

NOVA is a food classification system developed by researchers at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. It categorizes foods based on the extent and purpose of processing:

Group 1: Unprocessed or Minimally Processed

Fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, nuts, seeds

Group 2: Processed Culinary Ingredients

Oils, butter, sugar, salt, honey—used in cooking

Group 3: Processed Foods

Canned vegetables, cheese, freshly made bread, simple combinations

Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods

Packaged snacks, sodas, instant meals with industrial additives

Research shows that diets high in ultra-processed foods are associated with increased risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues. NOVA helps identify these products.

Who Supermarket Puzzle Is For

Supermarket Puzzle is designed for anyone who wants to make better food choices:

  • Health-conscious shoppers looking to reduce ultra-processed foods
  • Parents seeking healthier options for their families
  • People with dietary restrictions (keto, low-sugar, gluten-free, etc.)
  • Ingredient-conscious consumers avoiding seed oils, artificial sweeteners, or additives
  • Curious learners who want to understand food processing and nutrition
  • Anyone tired of misleading marketing and confusing labels

Our Commitment to You

  • Always free: Core features will always be available at no cost
  • No selling your data: Your privacy is respected and protected
  • Regular updates: New products, features, and collections added continuously
  • Evidence-based: All classifications based on scientific research
  • User-focused: Built based on feedback from real shoppers

What's Next

We're constantly working to make Supermarket Puzzle better:

  • Expanding our product database to cover more stores and brands
  • Adding personalized recommendations based on your preferences
  • Building community features to share discoveries and tips
  • Developing mobile apps for on-the-go grocery shopping
  • Creating more educational content about nutrition and food science

Get Involved

Supermarket Puzzle is better when people like you get involved:

💬 Share Feedback

Tell us what features you'd like to see, which products to add, or how we can improve. Email us at hello@supermarketpuzzle.com

📣 Spread the Word

If you find Supermarket Puzzle useful, share it with friends, family, and social media. The more people who understand food processing, the better.

🎮 Play and Learn

The best way to support us is to use the platform! Play the game, explore the product database, and make more informed choices at the grocery store.

Educational Disclaimer

Supermarket Puzzle is an educational platform. The information provided, including NOVA scores, ingredient analysis, and nutritional data, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or dietary advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding specific health conditions or dietary needs. Product information may change; verify details on actual product packaging before purchase or consumption.

Start Playing Supermarket Puzzle

Learn about food processing while having fun