1. Channel: Grocery

The goal is to help local communities through service

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, has announced plans to open three new Winn-Dixie stores to support economic growth in its communities.

The first Winn-Dixie store was opened shortly before Christmas in the rapidly growing Grand Cypress neighborhood in a suburb of its hometown. New stores are also planned in Jacksonville’s College Park neighborhood and in Apopka, a city of about 55,000 people outside of Orlando.

“Our goal is to positively impact our local communities through service, both inside and outside our stores,” said Anthony Hucker, SEG’s president and chief executive officer. “While we pride ourselves on offering a remarkable shopping experience for our customers, we’re also committed to being the grocer our customers and associates can always count on. With the investment of our new stores throughout our home state of Florida, we look forward to supporting the growth and betterment of our communities and providing our customers with quality products at an affordable price, so they don’t have to compromise when it comes to nourishing their families.”

The investment was announced as SEG was reflecting on what it calls “a WINNing year of community impact, growth and remarkable service.” In 2022, the company said, SEG provided value to its customers to help minimize the impact of inflationary pressures and donated $6.7 million to support organizations that share its passion for serving neighbors in need.

To support its communities throughout the year, SEG, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, donated more than $700,000 and 14 million pounds of food to help alleviate hunger, as well as $2.5 million to support crucial emergency assistance, disaster preparedness and relief programs both locally and in support of the citizens of Ukraine. The grocer also donated more than $1.2 million to Folds of Honor, providing more than 250 educational scholarships to the children and spouses of fallen and disabled military service members; provided 30 nonprofits with funds totaling $300,000 through the grocer’s Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program; and donated an additional nearly $2 million in support of various military, health and local community initiatives.

“As we reflect on this past year, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for our incredible associates and customers in the many unique Southeastern communities we serve,” said Raymond Rhee, chief people officer for SEG. “It’s been an exceptional year of growth and development, and I am humbled yet again to have witnessed the immense resiliency of our people and our communities. As we look forward to 2023, we look forward to serving, supporting and elevating our communities together; forward to witnessing the wonderful ways our people will collaborate once again; and forward to continuing along our path of growth in our commitment to provide value and convenience to our customers.”

SEG said that in 2022 the company continued its commitment to offer deeper discounts on regularly purchased items to help customers stretch their wallets. The grocery last year also introduced a new delivery service in more than 375 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations. SEG’s online shopping platform offers customers the same promotions, savings and prices found in stores with the convenience of delivery in as little as two hours.

Additionally, SEG continued to focus on its transformational journey by renewing and growing its fleet of stores, an effort that included renewals that were completed on more than 80% of its existing stores. Also in 2022, the company introduced 17 new liquor stores and two new Winn-Dixie locations in Florida.

SEG and its charitable arm, the SEG Gives Foundation, expanded its giving focus in 2022 to more causes committed to elevating belonging, inclusion and diversity. These investments allowed the grocer and the foundation to make a larger impact within its communities while empowering authenticity, educating the broader society and eliminating long-standing barriers. The grocer and its foundation also reacted quickly to support communities in the wake of Hurricane Ian, dispatching mobile pharmacies, opening its Pine Island Winn-Dixie store to the local community for free groceries and providing recovery essentials to more than 2,000 impacted families in southwest Florida.

Throughout the year, SEG also supported the USO, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, local schools, children’s hospitals and many more.

The grocer’s commitment to serving its customers extended to its own brand products, and its dedication to excellence and quality in their development.

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