Southeastern Grocers Releases Annual ESG Report and Announces Earth Month Initiatives

Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is celebrating its progress and long-standing commitment to fostering stronger communities and a healthier world with the release of its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report. To continue making a difference in its communities, the grocer is donating 33,500 reusable bags and supporting local conservation efforts through volunteerism and monetary donations in honor of Earth Month.

The annual sustainability report offers a comprehensive overview of SEG’s support of the environment and its neighbors through ongoing corporate social responsibility efforts across the Southeast. The grocer aligns its sustainability report with six specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which address hunger, health, education, inequalities, responsible consumption and production and ocean conservation.

Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “Our associates, customers, partners and communities are constantly inspiring us to lead for positive change to help foster a healthier, more inclusive world. In 2023, we took significant steps to promote fairness, diversity and sustainability throughout our operations. By implementing eco-friendly practices, supporting our diverse workforce and partnering with suppliers who share our values, we actively worked to safeguard our environment and create a more equitable future. Our dedication to delivering a preferred shopping experience is deeply connected to our sincere commitment to serving both our people and the planet, as we strive to create a brighter future for generations to come.”

In 2023, SEG, together with its charitable arm, the SEG Gives Foundation, donated more than $3.7 million to local communities. This included more than $560,000 in crucial funds and 13 million pounds of food to help alleviate hunger, and the grocer hosted 25 mobile food pantry events to get nourishing food directly into the hands of neighbors in need. SEG also donated more than $750,000 to Folds of Honor in 2023, helping to provide 150 educational scholarships to the children and spouses of fallen and disabled military members. Proudly recognized as the 2023 Northeast Florida American Red Cross Community Partner of the Year, SEG donated more than $460,000 to support crucial emergency assistance, disaster preparedness and relief programs. Through its Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity (BID) Grant Program, the SEG Gives Foundation donated $400,000 to 40 deserving nonprofit organizations across the Southeast that work to address racial disparities in health care, food insecurity and education.

Last year, SEG also furthered its commitment to diversity among its associates and supplier partners by increasing its diverse supplier count by more than 13 percent and establishing a five-year BID strategy to empower associates to be their full, authentic selves at work. SEG awarded more than $300,000 to assist with college scholarships and support for those facing unforeseen hardships. The grocer was proudly listed in Newsweek’s Greatest Workplaces 2023 for Diversity and earned Fortune’s Great Place To Work® certification for the fourth consecutive year.

SEG remains committed to responsible environmental stewardship and advocating for fair practices for animal welfare and pollinators through collaboration with suppliers and community partners. In 2023, SEG partnered with Relocalize to pioneer a revolutionary way of producing and distributing ice cubes while reducing water waste and trucking CO2 emissions by 90 percent. The grocer has also expanded EV charging station availability in select neighborhood stores, helping customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation.

SEG has increased its waste reduction efforts by eliminating the use of nearly 125,000 pounds of paper and 1.95 million single-use plastic bags. Customers are encouraged to go green by using the Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie mobile apps for digital receipts and paperless coupons and by using the grocer’s reusable bags that also give back through the Community Bag with a Giving Tag Program.

In celebration of Earth Month, the grocer is donating 33,500 reusable bags to local food banks and organizations serving underrepresented communities across the Southeast to help provide more equal access to a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bags. Through this donation, SEG is taking a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste by eliminating the use of more than 1 million single-use bags.

SEG is also donating more than $12,000 in monetary donations to local and conservation-focused organizations throughout the Southeast. The grocer’s associates will also participate in several volunteer initiatives to aid the environment by nurturing pollinator-friendly gardens, cleaning up litter from greenways, hosting beach cleanups and much more with the following organizations during Earth Month:

• Bahia Honda State Park (Big Pine Key)
• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park (Key Biscayne)
• Central Florida Earth Day (Orlando)
• Friends of Lafitte Greenway (New Orleans)
• Keep Alachua County Beautiful (Gainesville)
• Keep Louisiana Beautiful (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (Tampa)
• Ocean Hour (Pensacola)
• Schoolyard Roots (Tuscaloosa, AL)
• Sombrero Beach (Marathon)
• Tree Hill Nature Center (Jacksonville)

To learn more about the grocer’s commitments and to view its 2023 sustainability report, visit SE Grocers.