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SEG Launches Drive for Red Cross Hurricane Relief

Southeastern Grocers Inc. is launching a community donation program benefiting hurricane relief via the American Red Cross (Spanish site) to raise funds in preparation of peak season. Customers can help equip the nonprofit by donating $1, $5 or simply rounding up their grocery bill while shopping their local Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores through Sept. 27.

According to the National Hurricane Center, mid-August to mid-October is considered the most active months of hurricane season with the peak approaching on Sept. 10. Every dollar donated through SEG’s community donation program 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.

Raymond Rhee, chief people officer for Southeastern Grocers, said, “As a grocer serving five coastal states in the Southeast, our communities have weathered many storms and we know firsthand the devastation that hurricanes leave in their wake. Storm recovery takes a village, and a big part of that village is the Red Cross. It’s vital we ensure our relief organizations are well equipped when disaster strikes because it can mean the difference between life and death. Every dollar donated at our registers will go toward American Red Cross Disaster Relief to support communities in their greatest times of need.”

SEG has a long-standing partnership with the Red Cross, a national nonprofit whose mission is preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies through the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.​ Last year, SEG, together with the SEG Gives Foundation and generous customers, donated more than $815,000 to aid and support disaster relief efforts.

Donations to Red Cross hurricane relief enable the organization to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can conveniently donate in their local stores through Sept. 27 to support communities and the nonprofit’s mission.

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HKW Recapitalizes Golden Country Oriental Food, Golden Ocean Seafood

HKW has recapitalized Golden Country Oriental Food LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Ocean Seafood Inc. The Lee family will remain significant investors in the company, and the management team will remain in place.

Golden Country is a distributor of authentic ethnic foods primarily servicing the grocery, wholesale, and foodservice channels. It is a distributor of frozen seafood servicing the same channels. The company carries more than 3,500 dry, refrigerated, and frozen SKUs sourced from over 20 countries.

“The Lee family has built a tremendous business,” said John Carsello, Partner at HKW. “We have a long track record in specialty distribution and believe we can be a value-added partner for Golden Country as the business enters its next growth phase.”

“From our beginnings as a small grocery store in the early 70s servicing customers in Chicago’s Chinatown, we have grown to service customers throughout the Midwest,” said Sidney Lee, CEO. “This new partnership with John Carsello and his team will enable Golden Country to achieve our ambitious growth objectives and continue to provide our customers with the best product selection at affordable prices.”

“Golden Country is poised to benefit from market and demographic trends and is in a good position to accelerate expansion through add-on acquisitions,” said Michael Terrell, Vice President at HKW. “We intend to use a comparable playbook at Golden Country as we have in the past on similar investments.”

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP served as legal counsel to HKW. G2 Capital Advisors, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Golden Country.

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Happy Labor Day Weekend From Gourmet News

Labor DayAll of us wish you a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend and hope you find time to time to relax, like our furry friend here.

Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. It also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events.

We appreciate your interest in and readership of Gourmet News, the leading news journal for the gourmet food industry.

Regards,
AJ Flick (she/her)
Senior Editor
aj_f@oser.com