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Southeastern Grocers contributes $1.28 million in ‘hunger relief’ bags

Customers buy 258,000 $5 bags of groceries for local food banks

Russell Redman

May 18, 2020

2 Min Read
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Southeastern Grocers said all of the hunger relief bags were fulfilled directly from its warehouse and delivered to local food banks.Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers has donated more than $1.28 million in “hunger relief” bags of groceries to food pantries assisting food insecure Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through an in-store program running at Bi-Lo, Winn-Dixie, Harveys Supermarket and Fresco y Más stores from May 5 to 15, customers purchased nearly 258,000 $5 hunger relief bags containing dry groceries, which then were donated to Feeding America member food banks. The campaign was done in conjunction with the SEG Gives Foundation.

“We are grateful for the giving hearts of our customers and associates who recognize the needs in our communities and are able to make an impact in meaningful ways,” Southeastern Grocers President and CEO Anthony Hucker said in a statement. “With this donation, we are providing support to our local food pantries, nourishment to individuals in need and providing hope to our neighbors during these difficult times. As a community, we are stronger together.”

Southeastern Grocers said all of the hunger relief bags were fulfilled directly from its warehouse and delivered to local food banks, providing a contactless donation for shoppers and store associates. The bags held shelf-stable SE Grocers products such as spaghetti, canned green beans, canned corn, and boxes of macaroni and cheese.

Related:Southeastern Grocers lets customers donate ‘hunger relief’ bags of groceries

Also contributing to the effort was PepsiCo, which via customer donations and a $25,000 pledge provided 5,000 hunger relief bags to Feeding America food pantries.

“We are honored to support Southeastern Grocers on this campaign to help alleviate hunger in the communities we serve,” commented Rich Panner, vice president of the South division of PepsiCo Beverages North America.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southeastern Grocers operates 550 supermarkets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The economic impact of the coronavirus crisis has the potential to greatly increase the number of food insecure Americans, according to Feeding America.

A Feeding America analysis updated April 22 projected that for every 1.1% uptick in the unemployment rate and 1.5% rise in the poverty rate, the food insecurity goes up by 1%, or 3.3 million people. That would translated to 9.9 million people for a 4.5% jobless rate increase ( 2.6% in poverty rate, 3% food insecurity rate) and 17.1 million people for a 4.8% gain in unemployment ( 4.8% poverty rate, 5.2% food insecurity rate).

“The Feeding America network of food banks serves children, families and seniors who are facing hunger every day, but right now the need is at an all-time high,” stated Lauren Biedron, vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. “We are so very thankful for the donation from Southeastern Grocers and its customers. With this donation, we will have the opportunity to help provide more food to our neighbors across the U.S.”

Related:Southeastern Grocers picks up grocery tab for ‘community heroes’

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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