Southeastern Grocers partners with Coca-Cola to Share a Meal with Families in need
Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, has announced the Share a Meal programme in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.
The campaign provides customers with a seamless opportunity to share a meal with families in need through the simple purchase of a participating meal. To kick off the Share a Meal partnership, and help combat summer hunger, the SEG Gives Foundation will donate more than US$100k/£77k to Feeding America through its network of food banks.
Additionally, the grocer encourages customers to round up their total grocery bill at the register to benefit Feeding America during the current nationwide coin shortage.
Now through 31 December 2021, customers can help feed families in need by purchasing a Share a Meal combo at any BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie deli department. With each purchase of participating deli items and participating Coca-Cola products, 10 cents, or one meal, will be donated to Feeding America food banks throughout SEG’s seven-state footprint.
The Share a Meal Programme offers deli meal combinations including rotisserie chicken, mixed eight-piece baked chicken or mixed eight-piece fried chicken, with Coca-Cola products including Gold Peak Tea or SmartWater.
“At Southeastern Grocers, we are committed to making a difference in the communities we serve. We are honoured to partner with The Coca-Cola Company on the Share a Meal programme to aid Feeding America in the ongoing fight against hunger,” said Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers.
“Our customers will now proudly be able to have a meal donated on their behalf with each participating purchase. We are stronger together, and we appreciate our customers who help us spread kindness throughout our communities.”
Pam Stewart, The Coca-Cola Company Senior Vice President, National Retail Sales, said, “Our partnership with Southeastern Grocers and Feeding America demonstrates Coca-Cola’s commitment to act on our purpose to make a difference whilst supporting our valued customers. Through the Share a Meal programme, we are working together to help fight food insecurity, which is especially critical in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.”
Food insecurity is an ongoing issue that impacts 1 in 6 families throughout the Southeast. This year, more than 54 million people may face hunger due to work furloughs and industry layoffs because of the coronavirus pandemic – an estimated 46% increase from the 37 million people who struggled with food insecurity prior to the pandemic.
Through “Share a Meal”, The Coca-Cola Company and SEG will help offset the effects of food insecurity by providing customers throughout the Southeast with the opportunity to support their communities in an impactful way.
Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, said, “As a result of the pandemic, food banks across the country have seen an increase in the need for food assistance. At the same time, the charitable food system has faced hosts of challenges, including a decline in food donations, volunteers and other resources. Feeding America is grateful to Southeastern Grocers and The Coca-Cola Company for their support and commitment to helping our neighbours in need.”
Additionally, Southeastern Grocers has launched the SEG Positive Change Round-Up Campaign to help minimise the impact of the nationwide coin shortage whilst also providing support to people in need as its associates, customers and neighbours continue to navigate the effects of COVID-19.
Customers are encouraged to round up their total grocery bill to the nearest dollar at check out in support of various charitable organisations through the remainder of 2020. All spare change donated today through 4 August will benefit Feeding America in its fight against hunger.
This latest community effort is an expansion of the grocer’s ongoing commitment to support its longstanding partner, Feeding America, through various initiatives that cultivate strong relationships between its stores and local food banks, including associate volunteer efforts, community campaigns, food contributions and collaborations with partners like The Coca-Cola Company.
In addition to the SEG Gives Foundation’s more than US$100k/£77k donation to kick off Share a Meal, Southeastern Grocers helped the country face the surge of COVID-19 earlier this year with a US$250k/£192k donation to Feeding America as well as a contribution of nearly 258,000 US$5/£3.85 hunger relief bags equaling more than US$1.28m/£985k worth of food.
The grocer, its foundation and generous customers have donated more than US$2.5m/£1.9m in addition to tens of millions of pounds of food to Feeding America through various charitable programmes since 2017.
