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Southeastern Grocers’ ‘Round Up’ campaign addresses U.S. coin shortage

Through the year’s end, customers can donate their change at checkout

Russell Redman

July 24, 2020

3 Min Read
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Change donated to the SEG Positive Change Round Up Campaign will go to several charitable organizations.Southeastern Grocers

With coins in short supply around the country, Southeastern Grocers today launched a “round up at the register” program to lessen the need to give change as well as contribute to regional and national charitable causes.

Under the “SEG Positive Change Round Up Campaign,” customers of Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo, Harveys Supermarket and Fresco y Más stores who pay with a card can choose to round up their grocery purchase to the nearest dollar at checkout. All change donated will be electronically collected and provided to Feeding America, the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross Disaster Relief program and the American Cancer Society.

“At Southeastern Grocers, we are working diligently to make a difference in the communities we serve, and we are committed to protecting the health and safety of our associates, customers and neighbors as the country continues to navigate the effects of COVID-19,” President and CEO Anthony Hucker said in a statement. “While the nation’s shortage of coins is unexpected, we see this as another opportunity to once again help our neighbors in need and grow stronger together.”

From July 24 to Aug. 4, change collected in the SEG Positive Change Round Up Campaign will go toward supporting the network of Feeding America food banks. Southeastern Grocers noted that food insecurity has increased an estimated 46% during the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts one in six families across the Southeast.

Related:Retail groups to U.S. government: Where are the coins?

Shoppers rounding up at checkout from Aug. 5 to 25 will have their spare change donated to the American Heart Association’s “Life Is Why We Give” fundraiser, which supports the prevention of heart disease and stroke by improved lifestyle choices and preventive health care. And from Aug. 26 to Sept. 29, customers are encouraged to round up to support Feeding America for Hunger Action Month, a month dedicated to nationally standing together to fight hunger.

Southeastern Grocers customers in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, From Sept. 30 through Nov. 3, can round up to support the American Red Cross’ Disaster Relief program, which enables the organization to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from natural disasters. Also, Winn-Dixie customers in Alabama and Mississippi will be able to support the American Cancer Society “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” effort, while donations from shoppers in Louisiana will benefit the local Ochsner Cancer Institute.

The Jacksonville, Fla.-based grocer said it will continue the round-up campaign through the end of the year at its 550 supermarkets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Related:Southeastern Grocers launches minority grant program

The national coin shortage stems from the impact of COVID-19. On June 11, the Federal Reserve announced that the coronavirus outbreak “significantly disrupted” the supply chain and normal circulation patterns for U.S. coinage. As of June 15, the Fed and its coin distribution sites started allocating supplies of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters to depository institutions as a temporary measure to ensure a “fair and equitable distribution” of the current coin inventory.

Retailers and industry observers nationwide report that COVID-19 has curtailed in-store purchases, due to fewer people visiting stores, and pushed more Americans to buy retail goods online. However, cash represents over a third of all funds transacted in person by U.S. consumers and nearly half of all funds for transactions of less than $10.

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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