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Hurricane Relief: SEG, Publix Help Stricken Communities

Southeastern Grocers Launches Community Aid, Recovery

Photo: SEG Commercial Photography – Deremer Studios, LLC – Jacksonville, FL

Southeastern Grocers Inc., parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, has extended its community donation program to benefit the American Red Cross and plans for additional relief activations in areas impacted by Hurricane Ian.

The grocer is actively assessing storm damage throughout all Florida Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie store locations to determine when affected locations can safely and quickly reopen to support customers and communities in their time of greatest need.

“Hurricane Ian has left a wide path of destruction throughout Florida, and our heartfelt thoughts are with all of our associates, customers and communities recovering from the shocking devastation,” said Anthony Hucker, president and CEO. “I want to express my profound appreciation for our associates for their support before, during and after this historic storm.

‘Utilizing our decades of disaster relief experience, we continue to put people at the center of our decisions to shape every step of our recovery efforts – however long they may take. Hurricane Ian has left a legacy of disaster, but we are a resilient community, and our customers can count on us to help them recover. We are stronger together.”

SEG has extended its current in-store community donation campaign to benefit the American Red Cross. Customers can help equip the nonprofit by donating $1, $5 or simply rounding up their grocery bill while shopping their local stores. Every dollar donated will help support Red Cross Disaster Relief, which provides essential aid to those affected by disasters across the country, including food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance, including hurricane relief.

The grocer donated $250,000 to the American Red Cross earlier this year in preparation for this hurricane season, and more than $815,000 to aid and support disaster relief efforts in 2021.

Emergency truckloads of essential products and vaccines have been allocated to open stores and pharmacies throughout Florida daily. The SEG Gives Foundation is mobilizing resources to provide water and ice donations to Southwest Florida. The grocer plans to activate mobile pharmacies to offer preventive vaccines and needed medications, along with food pantries to provide shelf-stable products, fresh produce, water, ice and essential cleaning supplies in impacted areas where stores remain closed.

Publix to Donate Water, Ice in Hurricane Relief Efforts

 

Publix Super Markets associates are distributing nearly 8,000 gallons of water and 75,000 pounds of ice to individuals affected by Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida at Next Level Church, 12400 Plantation Road, Fort Myers, Fla.

Publix also activated an ongoing donation campaign, allowing customers and associates to help people affected by the hurricane. One hundred percent of proceeds donated at checkout will go to the American Red Cross.

“Our hearts are with our neighbors, friends and relatives in southwest Florida,” said Publix Director of Community Relations Dwaine Stevens. “Taking care of our communities is part of our culture. In our most challenging times, the Publix family is always ready to do good, together.”

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the United States with more than 230,000 associates, currently operates 1,306 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 25 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business.

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Cal-Maine Names Miller President/CEO; Baker Stays as Board Chair

 

Photo: Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.

Cal-Maine Foods Inc.’s board of directors has named Sherman L. Miller president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. He succeeds Dolph Baker as chief executive officer.

Baker will retain his role as chairman of the board and as an executive officer, and will remain actively involved in managing the company, with a focus on strategy, capital allocation, advising the senior management team and leading the board. This transition is consistent with the board’s succession planning process.

Sherman Miller joined the company in 1996 and has served in various management positions during his 26-year tenure, most recently as president and chief operations officer. He was elected president in 2018, chief operations officer in 2011 and vice president of operations in 2007. Prior to this, he served in management positions at various processing plant locations including Chase, Kan.; Delta, Utah; and Edwards, Miss. He became a member of the Cal-Maine Foods board in 2012.

He will remain interim COO until a successor is named. Miller serves as a director of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and United Egg Producers, and past director of the American Feed Industry Association. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in poultry science.

“Sherman has dedicated his entire career to Cal-Maine Foods and is extremely well qualified for this leadership position, having the right complement of operational experience and strategic vision,” Baler said. “He has been a proven leader in managing our operations through the various market cycles that are characteristic of our industry.

“Under his leadership, the company has achieved tremendous growth, and he has the full confidence of the board that he is the right person to lead the company forward. Sherman is well-respected within the company, by our customers and throughout our industry. I look forward to our continued strong working relationship as we execute our growth strategy.”

“I am proud and honored to assume this role with Cal-Maine Foods,” Miller said. “Dolph has been a tremendous leader and mentor, and we will continue to benefit from his valuable insight and deep knowledge of the company. He has established Cal-Maine Foods as a leader in our industry, and we will continue to work together and build upon this proud legacy and history of success.

“Cal-Maine Foods has a proven business model with a favorable product mix, a strong focus on efficient and sustainable operations, and a solid base of valued customers. With the support of our capable and experienced management team and an outstanding team of employees throughout our operations, I am excited about the opportunities ahead for Cal-Maine Foods.”

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. is primarily engaged in the production, grading, packing, marketing and distribution of fresh shell eggs, including conventional, cage-free, organic, brown, free-range, pasture-raised and nutritionally enhanced eggs. The company, which is headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss,, is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States and sells the majority of its shell eggs in states across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

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Creepy Condiment: Heinz Tomato Blood Ketchup Is Back

Heinz Tomato Blood Ketchup has returned, spooking grocery store shelves nationwide and making meals a scary good time. The tomato-gore-filled limited edition bottle features the Heinz Ketchup fans know and love and returns just in time for Halloween.

As the creepy condiment returns to dinner tables and costumes this Halloween season, Heinz enlisted the help of Toby, a vegetarian vampire influencer who gave up the traditional vampire lifestyle and chooses to eat something tastier instead – Heinz Tomato Blood Ketchup. Through an informational PSA, Toby is on a mission to convert as many of his fellow vampires to enjoy Tomato Blood and, crucially, spare the necks of humans.

“Being a vegetarian vampire and only eating Heinz Tomato Blood comes with a lot of misconceptions,” said Toby, the 280 year-old vegetarian vampire, influencer and Tomato Blood activist. “I hope that by issuing a PSA, vampires nationwide will consider that humans can be more than just food and give friendship a chance while enjoying a tasty alternative.”

Heinz encourages ketchup lovers everywhere to be like Toby this Halloween season, joining vegetarian vampires everywhere and indulging in devilishly delicious Heinz Tomato Blood before it flies off shelves like bats from the sunlight. Heinz Tomato Blood Ketchup is available at retailers nationwide starting in October. Additionally, human fans of Toby can head to select Six Flags locations to try the Totally Loaded “Bloody” Nacho Fries featuring Heinz Tomato Blood and, when the sun goes down, experience the thrill of Six Flags Fright Fest during the month of October.

“Whether dripped on a dinner plate or used as a creepy accessory, Heinz has been helping people make memories for years, and this Halloween is no exception,” says Alyssa Cicero, brand manager, communications, Heinz. “The limited-edition Heinz Tomato Blood Ketchup bottle features the iconic ketchup people know and love in a design even vampires can appreciate.”

Fans can watch the vegetarian vampire film featuring Toby, himself, on Heinz’s YouTube channel and during the AMC Premiere of “Interview with a Vampire.” Heinz will also be taking over some of the most popular channels on Fandom and unveiling a special vampire-themed activation on Twitch.

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