Grocery retailers hold a lot of power when it comes to change in the community. Through supporting nonprofits and establishing company-wide programs, retailers across the U.S. are working towards relieving hunger and enriching lives. Below are some of the top organizations and programs each retailer supports.

Kroger Co.

• Honoring Our Heroes: Kroger Co. raised $21,000,000 and employed 43,000 veterans since 2009.
• #ZeroHungerZeroWaste: Kroger’s goal is to diminish hunger in our communities and eliminating waste throughout the organization. The retailer donates the equivalent of three million meals every week.
• Sharing Courage: Kroger is fighting against breast cancer by donating one million dollars to finding a cure for this disease. The funding goes to supporting research, providing treatments for women in need, funding educational opportunities and support groups, transportation assistance and purchasing wigs or mastectomy supplies.
• Local Donations: Each Kroger location is committed to assisting its local nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches. Kroger tries to make a difference in each of its communities by focusing on diversity and inclusion, health and nutrition, and zero water and hunger.
• Salvation Army: Kroger has been teamed up with the Salvation Army since 2012 to collect donations for the organization during the winter holiday months. Every dollar donated during the annual program stays in the community where the money is raised to assists local families in need. This past December, Kroger presented a $232,250 check to The Salvation Army.

Albertsons Companies, Inc.

• Albertson Companies Foundation: Albertsons established this foundation to work towards strengthening their local neighborhoods and communities. The company outlines the 9 areas of key focus for them: health and human services, youth and education, diversity and inclusion, hunger relief, veteran support, sustainable efforts, health and wellness, nutrition, and quality of life.
• Veteran Support: Albertsons works to honor their veterans through support organizations, programs, and employment opportunities. Over the years, the company has donated over $3 million to organizations such as the Bob Hope Veterans Support Program and Veterans PATH to help veterans.
• Hunger Is Campaign: In 2014, Albertson’s teamed up with Feeding America to continually raise public awareness and funds to end childhood hunger in the U.S. Since 2014, the retailer conglomerate has raised $30.2 million dollars, provided over 77 million breakfasts to children in need, and helped over 281 organization to connect children to healthy meals.

Publix Super Markets, Inc.

• Habitat for Humanity: Publix Charities donated $2.5 million to Habitat for Humanity affiliates, homeless shelters, and other nonprofits to help provide housing to those in need.
• Feeding America: Publix Charities partners with Feeding America and is giving a $5 million donation to the nonprofit’s network, schools, and other charitable organizations to help relieve hunger and feed families in communities across the Southeast.
• Food for Sharing: This program is created to help customers donate meals to those in need by choosing one of three donation bundles (priced at between $5-15) and then Publix will send the bundle to local food banks. Since 2009, more than $86 million in food to help relieve hunger in their communities.
• Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH): For over 28 years, Publix worked with the CMNH to raise money to help the children and hospitals. Through programs like the Miracle Balloon campaign, Publix and its customers have raised more than $47 million for 27 chosen Southeastern hospitals.
• March of Dimes: Each spring, Publix’s customers and employees support March of Dimes whose mission is to enhance the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Through programs and event participation, Publix has donated more than $80 million throughout the past 20 years.
• Special Olympics: Every January since 1993, Publix works to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics. In 2019, they contributed more than $4.8 million to the Special Olympics to ensure athletes were able to train and compete free of cost, bringing their total contribution to $51.3 million.
• United Way: Publix is a top donor for United Way bringing in over $65.3 million in donations to support the nonprofit. United Way has many initiatives from helping those in with disabilities to meals for senior citizens.

H.E. Butt Grocery Co.

• • H‑E‑B Excellence in Education Awards: Since 2002, this program’s goal is to honor outstanding public school professionals and thank them for their dedication and commitment. Over the years, deserving educators and professionals were awarded $11 million from H-E-B.
  • H-E-B Helping Here: For over 100 years, this retailer has worked to support communities during times of crisis and disaster. H-E-B has been donating financial support, emergency supplies, drinking water and food throughout the years. The company has been working towards providing efficient ways for customers to assist those affected by a natural disaster.
  • Operation Appreciation: This campaign is to honor the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. H-E-B helps support veterans through partnering with organizations including Gary Sinise Foundation, Homes for Our Troops, Military Child Education Coalition, Operation Finally Home, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivor, and United Service Organizations.
  • Local Support: H-E-B is dedicated to giving back to its home state – Texas. Through multiple different community events yearly, the retailer is continually giving back to all its Texas communities.
  • H‑E‑B Spirit of Giving: Through this program, H‑E‑B Food Bank Assistance Program works year‑round to raise awareness and battle hunger in Texas and Mexico. In 2018, the company donated more than 32 million pounds of food to Texas and Mexico food banks, equal to over 25 million meals.

Whole Foods Market, Inc.:

• • Whole Planet Foundation: Developed in 2005, this initiative is geared towards helping alleviate poverty through microcredit. Over the years, the foundation has authorized $96 million through microlending partners worldwide, funded 3.8 million microloans and offered over 20 million opportunities for microentrepreneurs and their family members.
  • Whole Kids Foundation: This foundation supports schools and inspires families to improve children’s nutrition and wellness. Since 2011, Whole Foods provided over seven million kids with opportunities to connect with nature and food through our grants and programs. The retailer also partnered with the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) to allow teachers to receive professional development credits through the USDA.
  • Whole Cities Foundation: This program’s mission is to improve an individual’s or community’s health through collaborative partnerships, education, and broader access to nutritious food. Since 2014, the retailer has partnered with 150 nonprofits across 90 cities in the United States, contributing more than $1.2 million to local communities and is now expanding into Canada.
  • Local Producer Loan Program: Whole Foods is committed to offering its customers local products and helping those who produce them. This program has given over $25 million in low-interest loans to independent local farmers and food artisans.
  • Whole Trade Guarantee: This seal and program is to ethical trade, working conditions, and the environment, and can be found on products that meet these standards. With every Whole Trade Guarantee product purchase, Whole Foods will fund community projects determined by the workers themselves.

Hy-Vee, Inc.

• • Variety – the Children’s Charity: Since 1983, Hy-Vee has partnered with Iowa-based nonprofit, Variety, to improve the lives of at-risk, underprivileged, critically ill or special needs children. Over the years, the grocery retailer has helped contribute over $14 million to the organization.
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF): The Hy-Vee family had encountered juvenile diabetes in 1921 when cofounder Charles Hyde’s son passed away from the disease at the age of eight. Since 1998, the retailer teamed up with JDRF and had raised over $17 million through corporate and store events.
  • The American Red Cross: Hy-Vee has worked with the American Red Cross since 2011 to help provide relief to victims of disaster, as well as prevent and prepare for emergencies. In 2019, during the Iowa and Nebraska floods, Hy-Vee raised $200,000 to help those affected by the circumstances.
  • Hy-Vee Homefront: This initiative is to continually increase awareness and support for organizations that serve our nation’s military members, veterans, and their families. The retailer offers employee options for veterans as well as events and programs to honor and support these heroes. Since 2013, Hy-Vee has contributed over a million dollars to this initiative.

Southeastern Grocers, LLC

• • Feeding America & Fighting Hunger: Southeastern Grocers are fighting food insecurity in local communities through their Food Rescue and Bread Donation Programs. Through this initiative, the retailer is committed to donating five cents to Feeding America for every loaf of SE Grocers sandwich bread sold. In 2017, the company donated over 23 million pounds of food which provided over 19 million meals for families.
  • The American Red Cross: For over 50 years, Southeastern Grocers has partnered with the American Red Cross, sharing a mission of preventing and relieving suffering in America and around the world. The retailer has contributed over $10 million dollars in donations for the nonprofit.
  • Community Bag with a Giving Tag Program: The grocery retailer has created a reusable bag program to help make a difference in the environment and communities. With every reusable community bag purchase, customers can direct a $1 donation to the non-profit of their choice to benefit a local charity in their community.
  • Local Sourcing Policy: Southeastern Grocers sources products from local farms and orchards whenever possible as a part of their Local Sourcing Policy. The company has over 125 local suppliers with 577+ stores that sell local, organic and fresh produce and products.

Giant Eagle, Inc.

• • Feeding America: Giant Eagle has been proudly parented with Feeding America to help provide more than 6.5 million meals to families in need yearly.
  • Giant Eagle Apples for the Students Program: This program is set up with the Giant Eagle Advantage Card where customers can raise funds for their local school by simply shopping for their weekly groceries. Through this program, the grocer has donated over $36.7 million in educational equipment and has plans to donate one million dollars to schools close to customers.
  • Be A Smart Shopper™: For over 20 years, Giant Eagle has helped educate young students about living a healthy and nutritious lifestyle through their partnership with Field Trip Factory.
  • Upromise®: This initiative helps families save or pay for college through grocery shopping. Through Giant Eagle, customers can accrue credits on eligible purchases that are directed to college savings plans or to pay down student loans

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

• Enriching Store Neighborhoods:
• • United Way: Through work initiatives, Wegmans had helped contribute millions of dollars to United Way agencies through weekly employee payroll deductions and corporate gifts.
  • Wegmans Scholarship Program: To assist our people in pursuit of higher education, Wegmans established a scholarship program. Since 1984, we have awarded over $120 million to more than 38,500 employees through this program.
  • Youth Sports: Wegmans works with various organizations to help children get active and develop healthy habits. Among the organizations, Wegmans supports include Girls on the Run. Special Olympics, Challenger Baseball and more.
  • Disaster Relief: Wegmans supports and donates to organizations like Feeding America and the American Red Cross to help families and individuals in need during a disaster.

• Feeding the Hungry:
  • Perishable Pick Up Program: Since 1990, Wegmans employees have been choosing and packing items daily that are safe and wholesome to eat but no longer saleable. Every year through this program, Wegmans donates over 14.5 million pounds of food to local food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens.
  • Check Out Hunger: Once a year in all Wegmans locations, customers have the chance to add a small donation to their order and 100% of the funds will go to help local food banks. Since 1993, they have raised more than $38.8 million for hunger relief throughout checkout donations.
  • Fill the Bus /Fill the Backpack: This campaign is to help children eligible for free or lower-cost school meals get nutritious and healthy food options. Each Friday, eligible kids will receive a backpack full of wholesome foods through this campaign. In 2019, Wegmans “Fill the Bus” campaigns collected 1,008,531 pounds of food.

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

• SCRIP Fundraising: Sprouts works with SCRIP Fundraising Program to help nonprofit organizations through offering discounted gift cards at a 5% off which can be re-sold at full price to raise funds.
• Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation: Founded in 2015, this program focuses on enriching the lives of the local communities where Sprouts are located. The foundation partners with many organizations including REAL School Gardens, Vitamin Angels and Autism Speaks, to help teach children how to live healthy lifestyles.
• Neighborhood Grants: Through this foundation, Sprouts has been able to help their nonprofit partners with funding. Since 2016, the retailer has given over 200 grants ($5,000 to $10,000 value) to various organizations.

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