• FMI-The Food Industry Association announced last week the recipients of the 2023 Community Uplift Awards - The Giant Co., Hy-Vee Inc. and Brookshire Grocery Co. - which recognize "standout efforts in addressing food insecurity and neighborhood health needs and programs that influence social impact."
Giant was singled out for the $300,000 it awarded "to projects that address food waste prevention, reduction and recovery across its operating areas. For Stop Food Waste Day on April 26, The Giant Co. partnered with Flashfood to connect consumers to heavily discounted fresh and shelf-stable food with limited shelf life nearing its best-by date, diverting six million pounds of food from landfills."
Hy-Vee was recognized because it went beyond its operating areas to address "food insecurity across America by providing 30 million meals to vulnerable communities and 27 million meals to Feeding America member food banks."
And Brookshire was lauded for its Supplies for Schools program, in which "seventeen grocery stores across Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma partnered with communities to provide school supplies for underserved students through three options – purchasing $15 pre-packaged bags of supplies, making donations at the register or purchasing Supplies for Schools bouquets."
“It is second nature for supermarkets and product suppliers to be involved in their communities, supporting neighborhood efforts and providing leadership, comfort and stability during local emergencies,” said FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin in making the announcement. “It is so much just a part of what they regularly do that it’s easy to overlook all the good grocers and food suppliers perform beyond providing our daily bread.”
