2025 Sustainability Award Nominees

Ahold Delhaize USA aims to build a more sustainable food system through collaboration, innovation and scale.

Recognizing that the industry’s biggest environmental challenges cannot be solved by one company alone, ADUSA has joined with supplier partners Kellanova, General Mills and Campbell’s in efforts to reduce Scope 3 emissions, advance regenerative agriculture and drive positive change from farm to shelf.

Partnership spotlight:

With Kellanova, ADUSA is working alongside Bartlett to create a farm-to-shelf wheat sourcing program that strengthens supply chain resilience while supporting farmers adopting practices that improve soil health and conserve resources.

The pilot demonstrates how retailers and suppliers can align purchasing with sustainability outcomes to benefit people and the planet. It starts at the farm, implementing conservation practices to improve soil health, which improves water quality and helps reduce emissions, then continues through milling, manufacturing and ends on ADUSA brand shelves.

Through its collaboration with General Mills, ADUSA is supporting farmers in the adoption of regenerative agriculture in key sourcing regions. This partnership accelerates farming practices to reduce emissions, improve water stewardship and enhance biodiversity – safeguarding the food system’s viability while advancing shared climate goals.

In partnership with The Campbell’s Company, ADUSA is supporting potato farms to implement regenerative farming techniques to create more resilient agricultural systems and reduce emissions through soil health practices. The initiative covers 1,000 acres, corresponding with the approximate number of acres used annually to grow potatoes for Campbell’s potato chip and soup products sold in ADUSA brand stores.

Driving collaborative impact:

While each partnership is distinct, together they represent a bold new model for retailer-supplier collaboration. By connecting expertise, investment and scale, ADUSA and its partners are building momentum for systemic change to drive reduced environmental impact, strengthen food security and build a more resilient supply chain.

Although measurable results are in early stages, the anticipated impact is significant: improved soil health, reduced emissions, enhanced biodiversity and stronger farmer livelihoods across thousands of acres of U.S. farmland.

Equally important, these initiatives set an example for how retailers and suppliers can work together to advance sustainability at scale, providing a road map for the industry. ADUSA has seen firsthand that industry collaboration can unlock impact that no single company could achieve alone.

Additionally, suppliers are essential partners in our sustainability journey across ADUSA local brands. Through these efforts, ADUSA demonstrates leadership and reaffirms its commitment to healthier people and planet.

For more than three decades, Balls Food Stores has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to reducing food waste and fighting hunger through its longstanding partnership with Harvesters – The Community Food Network. Financial records dating back to 1992 show a consistent history of collaboration, though the partnership began even earlier, with additional donation records held in storage.

BFS supports Harvesters through two key programs. The first is the Food Barrel Program, in which barrels are placed in all stores for guest donations. To make giving even easier, BFS pioneered the idea of a pre-filled grocery sack available for purchase at $10. This innovative approach has since been adopted by Harvesters with other retailers, multiplying its impact across the region.

The second initiative is the Grocery Store Recovery Program, where surplus food from the BFS central warehouse is donated to Harvesters, ensuring that products unsuitable for store shelves are redirected to families in need rather than wasted.

This enduring partnership has yielded profound results. According to Harvesters, since 1992 BFS has donated more than 3.7 million meals, with the true total even greater. In recognition of this legacy, Harvesters recently honored BFS as a founding member of its Million Meals Club through the Hunger Action Partner Program, celebrating organizations that have donated at least one million meals. On Sept. 18, Harvesters hosted a reception to celebrate BFS’s achievement and long-term leadership in the fight against hunger.

Beyond its work with Harvesters, BFS also supports other community food initiatives. In 2024, BFS contributed nearly 500,000 meals to the Church of the Resurrection’s food pantry, further extending its mission of nourishing communities. Through innovation, influence and decades of dedication, Balls Food Stores has transformed food recovery into a powerful tool for sustainability and community care, standing as a model of how retailers can make a measurable difference in reducing waste and fighting hunger.

Cascades is a leading force in sustainable packaging, offering innovative, eco-designed solutions driven by strong expertise, a reliable supply chain and a commitment to a circular economy.

Cascades' sustainability action plan (2020-25) highlights that it will have 100 percent of its packaging solutions be recyclable, compostable or reusable to support circularity and responsible end-of-life by 2030. As a result, Cascades’ team is always working to create alternatives to hard-to-recycle packaging products.

For instance, Cascades introduced the first recyclable tray with rolled edge technology made from 100 percent recycled PET and is prequalified as widely recyclable by How2Recycle in select communities in the United States. This innovation, in addition to offering the performance expected of a PET tray, is offered in multiple sizes, different grades and in a clear finish.

The environmental benefits of this tray have been demonstrated through its successful integration by Canada’s leading grocery retailer. Since making the transition from all EPS protein packaging for its private label to 100 percent rPET trays, this leader has implemented more than 150,000,000 trays made from 100 percent recycled PET.

Compared to virgin PET trays, this shift has led to an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to 15,983 cars driving the 5,554-kilometer distance between New York and Los Angeles and to a 90 percent reduction in non-renewable resources extraction (Life Cycle Assessments of Cascades trays, Groupe AGECO, Montreal, Eco-calculator version July 2024).

Similarly, compared to virgin EPS trays, this shift reduces the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent, which is equivalent to 3,288 cars driving that same distance and decreases the extraction of non-renewable resources by 73 percent.

Additionally, consumer surveys have shown that 66 percent of users are likely to recycle a rigid PET plastic tray, while just 38 percent would do so with a foam tray, and 63 percent of consumers consider the phrase “made from 100 percent recycled content” gives a better impression of eco-designed packaging (Cascades Web Survey, 807 North American respondents, April 14-27, 2025).

This highlights how Cascades’ innovation is aligned with the sustainability goals of the company, its customers and end-users. The positive environmental impact of these trays is significant, and this case demonstrates Cascades’ sustainable initiatives through low-impact packaging.

A Honduras-based project between Dole and Zamorano University focused on tropical agriculture was designed to develop an integral and sustainable water management in the Uchapa–Pimienta micro-watershed, strengthening local capacities and reducing climate vulnerability.

The area is rural and close to Dole banana farms. The project covers key areas of water stewardship at landscape level to reach maximum impact and is closely aligned with the needs of local and indigenous communities, schools and local stakeholders.

The project has targeted and achieved significant progress in three key areas – environmental education, water management as an ecosystem resource and sustainable production systems through a range of initiatives.

For education, youth participation was promoted with the involvement of 551 high school students in environmental protection and restoration activities. In addition, 45 children were trained on issues related to climate change and natural resource management. About 480 m² of the Olanchito municipal nursery was rebuilt, with the capacity to produce 50,000 plants annually. Further, school gardens were implemented, engaging 65 children and 38 young people under the Learning by Doing methodology, consolidating themselves as an innovative and transformative tool for hands-on environmental education.

With respect to ecosystem water management, the project achieved strong results. An official declaration was obtained for 569 hectares of Quebrada Andaluz micro-basin as a forest protection zone. About 29 hectares were restored with diverse forest species and an additional 672 hectares were secured under forest protection and restoration.

In addition, three community fire protection brigades were equipped and two forest protection plans (2024–25) were implemented, reducing wildfires to less than 5 percent of the total area – evidence of the effectiveness of inter-institutional coordination promoted by the Forest Protection Board.

In addition, 230 families benefited from improvements in the water distribution system by getting their homes connected to the water infrastructure.

Finally, within the sustainable production systems component, environmentally friendly production models were promoted. Two thousand fruit trees were established on farmers’ plots and 40 production units were enriched through agroforestry systems of fruit species. Support was also provided to two beekeeping organizations that included 17 women and 33 men. Some 30,000 ornamental, fruit and timber plants were produced in the nursery.

Empower Fresh is transforming sustainability and operational efficiency across the independent grocery landscape. Its SaaS platform enables independent grocers – which often lack access to enterprise-grade technology – to optimize their produce operations with AI-driven tools that reduce shrink, increase sales velocity and minimize labor waste.

At the heart of the solution is a predictive ordering engine that ingests three years of sales and purchase data, combined with daily updates, to generate real-time, storespecific order recommendations. It is the only Native-AI Solution provider that is built by and enhanced daily by produce and retail industry professionals.

This precision drastically reduces over-ordering and spoilage – two of the largest contributors to food waste in retail. By accurately predicting demand and helping users right-size their inventory, it has helped grocers reduce produce shrink by up to 30 percent, which directly correlates to a substantial drop in the volume of unsold food that ends up in landfills. Less waste also means fewer transportation emissions and lower refrigeration costs – contributing meaningfully to a grocer’s carbon footprint reduction.

Empower Fresh’s platform also increases product turns and gross profit by enabling smarter ad planning. Grocers can simulate promotions using past sales lift, blended gross margin and ROI data – ensuring promotional strategies that are economically and environmentally sound. This means more efficient sourcing and fewer unnecessary bulk orders that might otherwise go to waste.

Additionally, Empower Fresh empowers grocers to operate with leaner staffing models by simplifying inventory assessments and order processes. What used to take hours now takes minutes – saving hundreds of labor hours annually per store. The userfriendly interface also encourages best practices in merchandising and cooler management, enhancing the quality and shelf life of fresh produce.

Empower Fresh is not just a technology provider – it is a partner in building a smarter, greener and more resilient food ecosystem for the communities its customers serve.

At G&R Farms, sustainability is at the heart of everything it does. As stewards of the land, the company’s goal is to grow the sweetest Vidalia onions possible while conserving resources, reducing waste and ensuring the health of workers and soil for generations to come.

Less is more – Through precision planting, G&R Farms carefully selects sweet onion varieties and matches them with the right sowing and transplanting dates. This approach enhances taste, appearance and shelf-life while minimizing inputs. The use of sandy, low-sulfur soils and diverse crop rotations keeps the land healthy and productive. G&R Farms focuses on what matters most – onions that look beautiful, taste exceptional and stay fresh longer.

Strategic field management – G&R Farms strikes a balance between consistency and innovation, utilizing larger fields for reliable production while testing new methods in smaller fields. By practicing conservative fertilization and harvest timing in core acreage, it reduces environmental impact while continuing to advance farming practices in targeted areas. This ensures dependable supply and continuous improvement in sustainability.

Resource-smart farming – Recent changes to G&R Farms’ planting strategy has allowed it to reduce the total planted area by 160 acres while increasing planting density by 20 percent. This innovation results in brighter, more uniform onions and higher yields – meeting consumer demand with fewer acres. These changes also drive significant conservation gains:

• Water – Saving more than 21 million gallons of irrigation water each year.
• Fertilizer – Cutting fertilizer use by 15 percent thanks to advanced precision application technology, which improves efficiency and protects the land.

Every decision made is guided by a belief that farming must not only nourish people today but also preserve the land for tomorrow. By embracing precision, efficiency and innovation, G&R Farms ensures that its Vidalia onions are truly “Grown with Passion, Served with Pride.”

After delivering safety bandsaws to meat packing plants all over the world, Guardian noticed that retailers were still having a lot of serious injuries, including amputations. In response, the company developed the Guardian Lite, a saw specifically designed for retail applications. Now in a range of regional and national retail chains, butchers in these stores get to go home safe every day.

Guardian does more than just sell equipment; it builds lasting partnerships with customers. It provides hands-on training programs that teach workers how to operate the bandsaws safely and efficiently.

This complete approach means workers feel valued and supported, which makes them want to stay with their companies longer. When grocery stores keep experienced butchers, they save thousands of dollars on hiring and training costs while building stronger, more skilled meat departments.

Harris Teeter demonstrates that being “in food with love” extends beyond customers to encompass communities and the planet. Through its comprehensive food rescue program and sustainability initiatives, Harris Teeter is transforming what could potentially be food waste into community nourishment across 250-plus stores.

Food rescue program impact

In 2024, Harris Teeter donated $12.8 million worth of food – 7.3 million pounds – directly to local food banks and community organizations, including 4.9 million pounds of perishables, providing 5.9 million meals to families facing food insecurity. Through May 2025, it had donated 1.6 million pounds, representing 1.9 million meals valued at $2.7 million.

The program operates through partnerships with food banks across the company’s footprint, coordinating daily with those partner organizations to ensure fresh produce, bakery items, dairy and prepared foods reach those in need rather than landfills. In May 2025 alone, Harris Teeter distributed 361,428 meals across communities.

Comprehensive waste diversion

Beyond food rescue, Harris Teeter’s waste management strategy prevented more than 39 million pounds of organic waste from reaching landfills in 2024. Through partnerships with Divert and Organix Recycling, the company diverted 36.5 million pounds for clean energy production and composting. Its recycling efforts included 51,321 tons of cardboard, 2.94 million pounds of plastic, 1.27 million pounds of cooking oil, 2.46 million pounds of meat department by-products and 696,000 pounds of pharmacy paper.

Operational innovation

Harris Teeter has implemented energy-efficient LED lighting across all refrigerated cases and freezers with motion sensor technology that reduces energy consumption while maintaining food safety. Its private label team has transitioned to compostable deli packaging and is advancing responsible sourcing initiatives.

Community impact

Harris Teeter’s sustainability efforts create multiplier effects – every rescued pound provides 1.2 meals while preventing landfill methane emissions. Harris Teeter proves neighborhood markets can be powerful sustainability catalysts, transforming waste into community nourishment one rescued meal at a time.

In 2024, Hussmann launched Evolve Technologies to create more sustainable refrigeration solutions that use environmentally friendly refrigerants, including R-744 (CO2) and R-290 (propane).

Hussmann is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of refrigerated merchandisers and refrigeration systems – producing, installing and servicing refrigeration solutions that display and preserve fresh foods in more than 250,000 supermarkets and convenience stores in the United States.

Evolve Technologies leverage low GWP refrigerants that are regulatory compliant and essential for the future of refrigeration. Globally, refrigeration and air conditioning contribute to about 10 percent of CO2 emissions. The company supports the U.S. EPA GreenChill Partnership in its efforts to recognize food retailers that reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change.

Hussmann even expanded its production capacity for transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems in its Suwanee, Georgia, facility and increased capacity for its self-contained R-290 (propane) line of products. As part of its Evolve Technologies portfolio, Hussmann also launched countless new refrigeration systems and merchandisers, including the award-winning Monoblock, an outdoor condensing unit, Protocol CO2 Rack and AIM Act compliant merchandisers.

In addition, Hussmann created the Evolve Experience – a mobile roadshow to further expand the education and reach of its sustainable vision. The experience visited customers and retailers to provide stewardship and training on low GWP solutions for the food retailing industry.

The Evolve Experience is a hybrid classroom featuring the latest CO2 and R-290 solutions with equipment for hands-on learning, including outdoor condensing units, controllers and leak detection technology. Hussmann teaches techs how to work on these new, sustainable refrigerants. The impact of the Evolve Experience includes 10,245 miles traveled, 19 cities visited, 563 attendees and 24 retailers.

Food City is dedicated to enhancing sustainability across various aspects of its operations. Food City’s initiatives span from local produce sourcing to energy-efficient store designs, all aimed at reducing its environmental footprint and promoting sustainable practices.

Food City purchases more than $5 million in locally grown produce annually, reducing transportation needs and supporting local farmers. Its partnerships with more than 20 farms across several states have positively impacted local communities.

For instance, Food City’s tomato partner, Red Sun, uses innovative water systems and integrated pest management to minimize water use and eliminate the need for herbicides. Additionally, Free Leafy Greens in Ohio employs sustainable growing processes to ensure the safety and quality of its produce.

Food City sources sustainable seafood and grass-fed beef from certified suppliers. Thomas Foods International USA, one of its beef suppliers, uses solar energy and recycling efforts to minimize its environmental impact.

Wampler’s Farm Sausage, another key partner, has achieved net-zero energy use through solar arrays and the Proton Power CHyP system. Food City also offers plantbased meat alternatives from Beyond Meat, which require less land and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Food City’s new store locations feature energy-saving concepts, including LED lighting, energy-efficient refrigeration and HVAC systems. It also is investing in solar energy, with one solar array in operation. Motion sensors and energy-efficient doors further enhance stores’ energy efficiency.

Food City is committed to reducing waste through various initiatives. It uses reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for fresh products, recycles significant amounts of cardboard, metal and plastic and participates in composting programs.

Food City’s food waste reduction efforts include donations to local food pantries and community organizations. In 2024, it donated more than $2.8 million through various initiatives and raised over $4.4 million for community support.

Food City operates a fleet of 140-plus hybrid vehicles, significantly reducing fuel emissions. Its dynamic routing system has reduced the total miles traveled and the number of trips, contributing to lower emissions.

Food City hosts annual Earth Day initiatives and encourages sustainability among employees and customers. It also promotes digital policies to reduce paper use and continues to educate its employees on sustainability practices.