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Southeastern Grocers kicks off ‘10 Days of Appreciation’

‘Frontline Heroes Day’ inaugurates events to honor employee efforts amid pandemic

Russell Redman

February 12, 2021

3 Min Read
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For Frontline Heroes Day, associates at all stores will be "recognized and rewarded" for their dedication and commitment, Southeastern Grocers said.Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers today launched “10 Days of Appreciation,” a series of events to recognize store associates and community heroes for their hard work and support during the coronavirus crisis.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southeastern Grocers said Friday that the celebration launches with “Frontline Heroes Day,” in which the company will honor all associates with an event at each store to highlight frontline workers’ extra efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic and thank them for supporting their communities in a time of need. The company said associates also will be “recognized and rewarded” for their endeavors, dedication and commitment.

“Our hardworking associates have displayed incredible acts of kindness, selflessness and love for their community and each other over the past year. They have gone the extra degree to ensure their friends, families and neighbors have access to healthy food, and a safe shopping experience they can always count on,” Elizabeth Thompson, executive vice president and chief people officer at Southeastern Grocers, said in a statement. “Our trusted associates have become the backbone of their communities during an incredibly difficult time. We are honored to celebrate our frontline heroes and express our immense gratitude for their continued commitment to spreading kindness throughout the communities we serve.”

Related:Southeastern Grocers readies COVID shots in Florida

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Southeastern Grocers is urging customers to nominate a hero, family member or friend for its “Share the Rewards” sweepstakes.

 

In connection with Valentine’s Day, Southeastern Grocers also is prompting customers to nominate a hero, family member or friend for its “Share the Rewards” sweepstakes, which gives both the nominee and nominator a chance to win $50 in rewards points. Shoppers can make nominations via the Winn-Dixie, Harveys Supermarket or Fresco y Más mobile app through Feb. 23.

On Feb. 17, in tandem with National Random Acts of Kindness Day, the retailer will launch a “Spread the Love” campaign at all Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie stores. Each location will select a local school, fire station, police station or “frontline hero” organization to receive free bagels and cream cheese.

Southeastern Grocers also plans to donate of 500 bags of “Essentials for Essential Workers” to Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Baptist Hospital in downtown Jacksonville. The event will provide essential grocery items to hospital employees as a thank you for keeping the community safe, the retailer said.

And to conclude its 10 Days of Appreciation, Southeastern Grocers on Feb. 22 will celebrate Supermarket Employee Day — a new event declared by FMI-The Food Industry Association — to honor its associates and fellow supermarket and food industry employees for their hard work and dedication over the past year under the pandemic.

Related:Southeastern Grocers shelves IPO

“SEG associates have contributed and volunteered countless hours in their communities to provide access to safe, healthy and affordable food while displaying courage, compassion and dedication for their communities,” Southeastern Grocers stated. “Customers can join in the celebration by sharing words of gratitude or with a socially distant ‘thank you’ to their local grocery store team.”

Overall, Southeastern Grocers operates more than 500 supermarkets in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and Mississippi under the Winn-Dixie, Harveys, Fresco y Más and Bi-Lo banners, as well as 140 liquor stores, 231 in-store pharmacies and one central specialty pharmacy.

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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