PORTLAND (AP) – The Hannaford Bros. supermarket chain plans to license its gold star rating system that has been applied to more than 25,000 food items ranging from fresh habanero peppers and mangos to SpaghettiO’s and Wonder Bread.

Billed as the first program of its type, the Guiding Stars system is already in place in 164 Hannaford Supermarkets throughout the Northeast and 106 Sweetbay stores in Florida. And it will be implemented in Food Lion stores next year.

If the licensing is successful, the program could be rolled out to stores other than Delhaize Group’s Hannaford, Sweetbay and Food Lion.

“With obesity, and related diseases, continuing to be a serious problem, Hannaford is committed to being a part of the broader public health solution,” Ronald Hodge, Hannaford’s CEO and president, said Thursday in a statement.

Other supermarkets, along with vendors and health care groups, are interested in using Hannaford’s program because it would be too costly to “reinvent that wheel,” said Caren Epstein, a spokeswoman for Scarborough-based Hannaford.

Epstein declined to say how much money was invested in Guiding Stars, other than to say it was “in the millions.” That doesn’t include the time and effort put into the program and setting up an advisory panel with experts from across the country.

The program, introduced in Hannaford stores in September 2006, rates food items with zero to three stars based on nutritional value.

Under the program, vitamins, minerals, fiber and whole grains earn more stars. Added sodium, trans fats, saturated fats and cholesterol mean fewer, or no, stars. Hannaford is seeking a patent for the formula, which is a secret for now.

Hannaford reports faster sales growth for items that receive stars, indicating the program is steering shoppers to healthier products.

The idea of the Guiding Stars came from shoppers who were frustrated and confused by available nutritional information.

As it stands, the system consists of signs and shelf tags in the stores, in addition to an advertising campaign, collateral materials, training materials, a Web site and community outreach, the spokeswoman said.

There’s also interest by at least some vendors in having the Guiding Stars placed on the products themselves, similar to heart-check symbol on products receiving the American Heart Association’s seal of approval, she said.

Interest from outsiders has picked up since the first year results were released in September, said Mark Doiron, Hannaford senior vice president.

“We know we have a program that works and has demonstrated results,” he said. “We’re optimistic about the opportunity to share it with a broader audience.”

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