FMI – The Food Industry Association has announced the recipients of its 2026 Community Uplift Awards, recognizing food industry companies that invest in the communities they serve through programs focused on food insecurity, social impact and neighborhood health.
Food insecurity: Winn-Dixie
The Winn-Dixie Company won the food insecurity category for “From Emergency Response to Year-Round Relief: The Winn-Dixie Company’s Gratitude Month Initiative.” When SNAP benefit disruptions created uncertainty for many families during the 2025 holiday season, the grocer paired a $100,000 donation to Feeding America with ways for customers and associates to help feed neighbors in need.
What started as a seasonal effort evolved into a year-round commitment. The company’s “Give a Little, Feed a Lot” donation bag program generated nearly $200,000 in donated products within its first two months and has since provided more than $735,000 in donated products to more than 100 nonprofit partners.
Food Lion received an honorable mention in the category for its Food Lion Feeds programs.
Social impact: Giant Food
Giant Food won the social impact category for its Artist/Community Bag Program, which invited local artists from Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C., to illustrate what home means in their communities. The designs celebrated local landmarks, traditions, foods and shared experiences on reusable shopping bags.
Between April 2024 and May 2026, Giant sold nearly 247,000 bags, prevented the use of more than 7.4 million single-use plastic bags and supported 936 nonprofit organizations. Donations generated through the program helped provide an estimated 1.1 million meals.
Inmar Intelligence earned an honorable mention for its sustainability and ethical impact strategy.
Neighborhood health: Yasso
Frozen Greek yogurt brand Yasso won the neighborhood health improvement category for its Can’d Aid partnership. Through the partnership, Yasso’s Game On! Foundation helps children in under-resourced communities access active lifestyles through bike build and donation events across the country.
In 2026 alone, volunteers assembled and donated 762 bicycles, including adaptive bikes and wheelsets. Since the partnership began, more than 4,300 bicycles have reached children through schools and nonprofit organizations in 18 states.
Stop & Shop received an honorable mention for its Nutrition Partners program.
An independent panel of judges selected this year’s winners. The panel included Dr. Ernest Baskin of Saint Joseph’s University; Andrea Dimond of the University of Southern California; Adam Brumberg of Cornell University; and Stephanie Reid, president and COO of The Shelby Report.
More information on the winning programs and the full slate of nominees is available at FMI.org/CommunityUplift.