Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern Grocers is reflecting on a year of community impact, growth and service as 2023 comes to a close.
In 2023, the grocer introduced new products and donated more than $3,727,000 back into the community.
“Reflecting on the remarkable journey we’ve taken over the past year, we are immensely grateful for the incredible dedication of our associates and the unwavering support of our loyal customers,” said Raymond Rhee, chief people officer for Southeastern Grocers.
“Throughout 2023, we celebrated many WINNs as we worked together to improve our stores, support our neighbors and lend a helping hand to community members in need. As we turn the page on a new chapter in 2024, we look forward to another year of nourishing communities and fostering genuine connections – both inside and outside of our neighborhood stores.”
This year has been one of growth and renewal for the grocer, with 17 store remodels providing customers with improved shopping experiences and enhanced offerings, along with the opening of two new Winn-Dixie stores in Florida.
In August, SEG unveiled a new ground-up store in the recently developed Apopka City Center in Orange County, and a second new store opening in September in the new College Park development in Jacksonville to support the Arlington community’s revitalization efforts.
Southeastern Grocers also expanded its online shopping service for Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers with the launch of curbside pickup in February to provide customers with additional convenience and value. Also in 2023, it won more than 150 awards for its Own Brand products and market exclusive lines.
This year, SEG also announced a new exclusive product line – Know & Love – designed to provide a range of products made with ingredients customers “know,” to create the everyday products they’ll “love.” Ingredients are selected for quality and every product is free from nearly 100 undesirable ingredients such as certified color additives, partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin and sucralose.
With many products already available, the SEG Know & Love product line will continue to roll out gradually through 2024 – offering more than 1,000 clean label products including dairy, produce, ready-made foods, beverages and household items.
In addition, SEG launched its new seasonal discount program for the most-shopped grocery essentials. The “Price Hold” program lowers prices on more than 1,000 popular items to help customers stretch their grocery budget when shopping items marked in blue Price Hold signage throughout Winn-Dixie stores.
In 2023, SEG and the SEG Gives Foundation donated more than $3.7 million to more than 1,300 community partners throughout the Southeast. This includes $560,000 and more than 13 million pounds of food to fight food insecurity throughout the Southeast in partnership with Feeding America and its food bank partners; $460,000 to support emergency preparedness and disaster relief efforts; and $750,000 to Folds of Honor to provide 150 educational scholarships to the legacies of fallen and disabled service members.
SEG also supported various community initiatives in 2023, including a donation of $350,000 to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, a donation of $225,000 to support nine pediatric care facilities in the Southeast and supported more than 420 local schools ahead of the academic school year.
Additionally, in its fourth year, SEG’s Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant program provided 40 nonprofit organizations with $400,000 in total to help address racial disparities in education, health care and food insecurity.
Read more corporate chain store news from The Shelby Report.
