FMI – The Food Industry Association announced that the three recipients of the 2024 Community Uplift Awards are Whole Foods Market, Brookshire Grocery Company and SpartanNash.
With a record-breaking 34 nominees, a panel of judges selected three community uplift programs for their efforts in addressing food insecurity, neighborhood health needs and programs that influence social impact. In addition, FMI recognized honorable mentions for each category.
“This year’s Community Uplift Award recipients exemplify our industry’s dedication to addressing critical issues like food insecurity, neighborhood health and social impact,” said FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin.
“Their campaigns not only improve lives but also inspire us all to contribute more meaningfully to society. We are proud to recognize their achievements and support their ongoing commitment to making a difference in the local communities they serve.”
Food Insecurity Program Award
Recipient: Whole Foods Market, Nourishing Our Neighborhoods
Launched in 2020, the Nourishing Our Neighborhoods program by Whole Foods Market enhances food-rescue organizations’ capacity by funding refrigerated vans to transport fresh food to communities in need. Now in its fourth year, with 44 vans donated as of the end of 2023, the program supports food redistribution, rescuing 20,000 pounds of food weekly per van.
[RELATED: Whole Foods Market Celebrates 50th Van Donation To Local Nonprofits]
In 2023, Whole Foods Market introduced the Nourishing Our Neighborhoods Mobile Pantry and Stuff the Van events, providing fresh produce and pantry staples to thousands of families.
Food Insecurity Honorable Mention recipient: Hy-Vee, Inc., 100 Million Meals Challenge and Pack the Pantry
Neighborhood Health Improvement Program Award
Recipient: Brookshire Grocery Company, FRESH 15 Race
The record-breaking 2024 FRESH 15 race, held on March 2, raised $180,500 for 30 local charities. The 11th annual event at Brookshire Grocery Company’s FRESH by Brookshire’s store in Tyler, Texas, featured 4,500 runners from 27 states and three countries participating in 15K, 5K and Kids 1K races.
More than 300 volunteers and thousands of spectators joined, ending with a “Party on the Pavement” celebration. One hundred percent of race revenue, totaling more than $1.5 million since 2014, has been donated to nonprofits. The race promotes healthy living and community support, making it a leading 15K event in the U.S.
Neighborhood Health Improvement Honorable Mention Recipient: BriarPatch Food Co-op, Patchworks
Social Impact Program Award
Recipient: SpartanNash, Planet Versus Plastics
The latest phase of SpartanNash’s “Planet vs. Plastics” initiative launched on Earth Day 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In collaboration with Trex and Home Repair Service, SpartanNash recycled plastic bags collected from its stores into durable decking boards to build accessibility ramps for veterans’ homes. This year, five ramps were constructed, each using more than 157,000 recycled plastic bags.
The initiative saw widespread participation from SpartanNash employees, store guests and volunteers, reducing plastic waste and enhancing veterans’ mobility and quality of life.
Social Impact Honorable Mention Recipient: UNFI, UNFI Responsible Sourcing Program
About the Community Uplift Awards
In collaboration with FMI’s strategic partner, The Shelby Report, a panel of judges scored each program based on participation, ability to address community need, breadth and depth of the program and creativity. The panel of judges included Eric LeBlanc, SVP of marketing at Category Partners; Stephanie Reid, president and COO at The Shelby Report; Ernest Baskin, associate professor and chair of food, pharma and healthcare department at Saint Joseph’s University; and Jeff Pederson, Retailer Owned Food Distributors and Associates (ROFDA) president and CEO.
The three program recipients each will receive $1,000 to help expand their community uplift program, along with a commemorative plaque, and will be recognized on FMI.org and in The Shelby Report for their outstanding efforts. Honorable mention recipients also will be recognized.
Learn more about the 2024 Community Uplift Award recipients and the inspiring stories among all the nominees, including StarKist Co., Food Lion, Dollar General, Schnucks Markets, Albertsons Companies, Associated Food Stores and more at FMI.org/CommunityUplift.
