Grocers nationwide are marking Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with free meals, discounts and fundraising for military organizations, with several programs extending throughout November.
Hy-Vee: $1 million pledge, breakfast tradition and 15 percent off
Hy-Vee is honoring veterans through its Hy-Vee Homefront initiative as the nation commemorates America 250. The Homefront Round Up runs through Nov. 30, with the retailer matching customer donations up to $100,000 for organizations including the American Red Cross, Honor Flight Network, Hope for the Warriors, Operation First Response and Puppy Jake Foundation.
New this year, Hy-Vee has pledged $1 million to the Welcome Home Soldier Monument in Albia, Iowa, to help the nonprofit build a welcome center, with a portion of round-up proceeds assisting the effort. On Nov. 11, the retailer hosts its free buffet-style Veterans Day Breakfast, a tradition since 1999, from 6-10 a.m. at all stores with hot food service, and veterans and active-duty members receive 15 percent off grocery purchases in-store or online at Hy-Vee and Dollar Fresh Market locations.
Established in 2013, Hy-Vee Homefront has donated more than $4.3 million to nonprofits serving military families.
Based in West Des Moines, Iowa, Hy-Vee is an employee-owned corporation with more than 540 business units, including grocery stores, in nine midwestern states.
Festival Foods: 17 free items worth $60
Festival Foods is offering veterans and active-duty military members up to 17 free grocery items, a $60 value, at all 42 Wisconsin stores on Nov. 11 with a qualifying $20 purchase and valid military ID, while supplies last. The program launched in 2018 with nine free products and has grown through vendor partnerships.
This year’s lineup includes a Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza or Packers pizza, a 2-liter Pepsi or Mountain Dew product, a 5-pound bag of russet potatoes, bakery French bread, Thomas’ English muffins, McCain potatoes or onion rings, Old Dutch popcorn, Utz and Frito-Lay snacks, Bubbl’r sparkling water, Cameron’s Coffee, Celsius and Flrt energy drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, Snapple and Edge or Skintimate shaving products.
“What began nearly a decade ago as a small gesture has grown into a statewide tradition supported by over a dozen brand partners,” said Travis Tiedt, center store merchandise buyer for Festival Foods, who helped establish the tradition. “We are honored to welcome veterans and active-duty service members into our stores each November to show our appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice.”
The grocer also supports veterans year-round through Heroes Cafés, free monthly coffee gatherings in store community rooms, and designated veteran parking at every store.
Founded in 1946 as Skogen’s IGA and known as Festival Foods since 1990, the family-owned grocer operates 42 full-service supermarkets in Wisconsin. Festival Foods is part of 1939 Group, Inc., which is owned by the family that founded Schnuck Markets Inc.
Winn-Dixie: 11 percent discount and grape sales for the USO
The Winn-Dixie Company
is offering an 11 percent discount Nov. 11 for veterans and active-duty service members with valid military or veteran ID on qualifying in-store purchases.
Through Nov. 11, the company and the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation, in partnership with DLJ Produce, are also donating 5 cents to the USO for every pound of Razzle Dazzle Premium Grapes sold, up to $50,000. Since 2018, the company and its foundation have contributed more than $8.4 million to organizations supporting military service members and their families.
Jacksonville, Florida-based Winn-Dixie operates more than 120 grocery stores in Florida as well as 100-plus liquor stores.
Market 32, Price Chopper: DAV drive and stars from retired flags
Market 32 and Price Chopper customers can round up purchases at checkout through Nov. 30 to benefit DAV (Disabled American Veterans), with the grocer matching donations up to $10,000. On Nov. 11, veterans, military personnel and immediate family members receive 11 percent off one shopping trip with proof of service and an AdvantEdge Rewards card. Stores will also distribute stars individually cut and preserved from retired American flags, in partnership with Stars for Our Troops, collected during the company’s spring flag drive.
“We are humbled by the courage and sacrifice of those who serve and have served our nation, and by the families who have stood beside them,” said Blaine Bringhurst, president of Market 32 and Price Chopper. “We’re proud to offer a Veterans Day discount to say thank you and help support their everyday needs.”
Based in Schenectady, New York, Market 32 and Price Chopper operate 128 supermarkets in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The company was founded by the Golub family in 1932.
Tops: 11 percent discount tops $1 million in cumulative savings
Tops Friendly Markets will offer an 11 percent discount on groceries Nov. 11 at all 151 locations for U.S. veterans, active-duty personnel, reservists and retirees, as well as immediate family members in the same household, with proof of service. Now in its 13th year, the program has provided more than $1 million in savings to military personnel and their families since 2014.
“Behind every person who serves is a story of commitment, courage and sacrifice, and often a family making sacrifices alongside them,” said Ron Ferri, president of Tops Friendly Markets. “We are grateful to count so many veterans and military families among our associates, customers and neighbors. This Veterans Day, we’re honored to offer a small expression of our appreciation for all they have given to our country and continue to give to our communities.”
The Williamsville, New York-based grocer supports the military community year-round, including veterans’ memorials and traveling tribute walls, Honor Flight missions and proceeds from its tents at the Taste of Buffalo and Taste of Syracuse benefiting three veteran organizations. Tops has also run the Stars for Our Troops program twice over the past eight years, collecting more than 58,000 stars from retired flags to present to veterans.
Headquartered in Williamsville, New York, Tops Markets operates a robust network of 151 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including one franchise location.
Sheetz: free meal, car wash and loyalty point donations
Sheetz
is offering veterans and active-duty military personnel a free half turkey sub with extras and a regular fountain drink Nov. 11 at its more than 850 locations, plus a free $9.99 car wash at equipped stores, with proof of service.
Throughout November, customers can donate loyalty points to the USO through the Sheetz app, with every 100 points equaling a $1 contribution.
Altoona, Pennsylvania-based Sheetz operates more than 850 stores in Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.
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