Shoppers at Hannaford supermarket in Albany, New York, can now work out while shopping and burn calories.

The superstore has a 5,600-square-foot gym that was opened in October 2013 and includes a number of exercise machines such as stationary bicycles, cardio machines, treadmills and more. The gym also has a Zumba room. Shoppers can work out for free while shopping in the store.

The New York supermarket says that opening a gym facility in the Albany store is not a part of the company's marketing strategy. Hannaford has around 184 stores in the country and the Albany store is the only one which has a gym in it. The supermarket chain does not have any plans to open a gym at its other stores in the near term.

Hannaford had a meeting with the local YMCA Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, the area's health-care provider. The goal of the meeting was to start something which will improve the health of the people in the community and at the same time be easily accessible, conveniently located and free.

The Hannaford store in Albany had extra space and started the Healthy Living Center that will target buyers to burn calories. The objective of the gym is to address obesity and diabetes in the community.

According to ABC Action News, Nancy Gildersleeve, the director of healthy living for the Capital District YMCA, says that the initiative was perfect for the community and a partner will help prevent people from suffering chronic diseases. The Albany Hannaford store also has a personal trainer that has been provided by the YMCA. Hannaford has also arranged for a dietician at the center who offers suggestions of healthy eating.

"This is really a first step for people that have never felt that connection and support," says Gildersleeve. "This has become a community center. People meet folks just like them."  

Gildersleeve also highlights that the partnership with Hannaford is one of a kind and YMCA does not have any such partnership with any other company in the United States.

The gym in the New York Hannaford superstore has already attracted many customers and it has more than 1,100 registered members.

The partnership has also caught the attention of many people as well as businesses. Harry Balzer of the NPD Group, a marketing research company, says that Hannaford's initiative is an impressive idea.

"All of us eat and 63 percent of us say we exercise on a weekly basis," says Balzer. "I have a ready and willing market with six out of 10 people who walk in the door, but the point that's most salient is free. I know of nothing that will change your behavior faster than money. Will it last? That's the question."

It will be interesting to see if other supermarkets also adopt a similar model as part of their social responsibility to the local communities.