Gourmet News

Giant Food Earns Top Score From Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Published December 1, 2023

Giant Food, the leading greater Washington, D.C. regional grocery chain, has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Giant Food joins the ranks of over 545 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

“Giant Food is extremely proud to have earned a score of 100 for the fifth consecutive year on the Corporate Equality Index for the practices we have established to foster and support a diverse and inclusive workplace for our LGBTQ+ team members,” said Brian Wanner, vice president of human resources at Giant Food. “We are committed to embracing and advancing a workplace that represents and celebrates the cultures, backgrounds and experiences of our team members and communities helping create a culture in which we can all grow, care and belong.”

Giant has consistently worked to implement and advance a range of programs, policies and practices to promote inclusivity and diversity. Just this year, the company has introduced or expanded upon several training, education, employee benefit and partnership efforts including:

Ongoing Gender Inclusivity training for all employees
Creation of employee LGBTQ+ Benefits Guide
Creation of employee Gender Transition Guidelines
Added Restroom Guidelines signage
Addition of employee pronouns to name and security badges
Involvement in regional Pride celebrations including Washington, D.C. and Baltimore

“For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion,” said RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality.

“Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool – a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families.”

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the United States and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002.

These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe. Giant Food’s efforts in satisfying all the CEI’s criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine’s top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;
Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;
Supporting an inclusive culture; and,
Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at https://www.hrc.org/resources/corporate-equality-index.

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United Supermarkets Offers Rewards! Members More Savings

Published November 30, 2023

With its Fresher for Longer loyalty campaign, United Supermarkets is saving its guests money, keeping food fresh and reducing food waste. The division of Albertsons Companies, Inc., operators of stores under the banners of United Supermarkets, Albertsons, Market Street and Amigos, is offering its Rewards! members the opportunity to earn extra benefits with every shopping visit.

In addition to earning points redeemable for free groceries and discounts on food and fuel, guests are earning digital stamps redeemable for MasterChef Food Storage products through a partnership with tcc Global, a leading loyalty program solution provider.

From now through Jan. 16, Rewards! members earn one MasterChef digital stamp for every qualifying $10 spent. The digital stamps are redeemable through Jan. 30 for free MasterChef branded food storage containers ranging in price from $7.99 to $18.99. Seven different size containers are offered and guests are encouraged to collect the full range.

“The United Family of Stores is known for its outstanding fresh offering and overall value to our guests. Providing MasterChef Food Storage containers absolutely free as a reward for shopping supports our core value proposition in both of those areas,” said Tony Crumpton Chief Merchandising/Marketing Officer, The United Family. “Guests appreciate that we are providing a high-quality reward that helps them save money while reducing food waste.”

The Fresher for Longer campaign includes a digital mobile game that shoppers can play each and every day. Accessible through the United Family of Stores apps and websites, guests can win instant prizes of free supplier-funded products, bonus digital stamps and MasterChef Food Storage containers.

Each game play also earns guests an entry to a sweepstakes with the grand prize winner winning a three-course dinner for six prepared and hosted by MasterChef contestant and chef Bri Baker. The cost of the dinner is fully covered including the food, venue and travel costs for the winner and their guests.

“The Fresher for Longer campaign is brilliant positioning by United. In an inflationary environment with rising interest rates, consumers are looking for ways to save money and stretch their food dollars. Linking these needs to the environmental concern of reducing food waste shows that United really understands and appreciates its loyal guests,” said Dan Dmochowski, President of North America for tcc Global.

In its 107th year of operation, United Supermarkets, LLC – d.b.a. The United Family^® – is a Texas-based grocery chain with stores in 54 communities in Texas and New Mexico. A self-distributing company with headquarters and distribution centers in Lubbock, The United Family currently operates 98 stores under five unique banners: United Supermarkets, Market Street, Amigos, Albertsons Market, and United Express, along with ancillary operations R.C. Taylor Distributing, USM Manufacturing, United Food and Beverage Services and Llano Logistics. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Albertsons Companies, Inc.

tcc Global is a multinational marketing company specializing in creating loyalty platforms and campaigns that change the way shoppers think, act and feel. In a fast-paced retail environment which continues to be disrupted by increasing consumer choice, technology and innovation, customer loyalty remains a significant driver as the link between emotional resonance and transactional reward.

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Sprinkles Promotes Murakami to Chief Operating Officer

Published November 30, 2023

Sprinkles Bakeries and Picnik Restaurants has promoted Justin Murakami to chief operating officer, recognizing his exemplary contributions and leadership in steering operational growth and innovation. His promotion signals a pivotal phase in executing Sprinkles’ growth strategies domestically and internationally.

Dan Mesches, president and CEO, lauded Justin’s appointment, affirming, “Justin’s strategic foresight and operational expertise have been instrumental in our company’s success, especially in expanding Sprinkles’ global footprint and Picnik’s domestic expansion. We’re confident that under Justin’s leadership, we’ll continue to exceed expectations, scale efficiently and solidify our position as industry leaders.”

Since joining Sprinkles in 2017, Justin swiftly became an integral part of the company’s evolution. His instrumental role in developing and implementing foundational systems and processes laid the groundwork in expanding the brand’s physical footprint with both company-owned and franchised locations, domestically and internationally.

Notably, under his stewardship, Justin took the brand’s iconic cupcake ATMs beyond their brick and mortar locales and launched the non-traditional Cupcake ATM business. With over 50 ATMs and counting, Sprinkles ATMs can be found in airports, malls and lifestyle centers across the country. Justin was also instrumental in the successful launch of Sprinkles’ National Shipping Program, creating another channel for significant growth.

With an impressive career spanning 25 years in the hospitality sector, Justin has navigated through the ranks starting as a host, then becoming a GM at the Cheesecake Factory to an Area Director overseeing multiple brands with Lettuce Entertain You and Hopdoddy Burger Bar. His vast experience has honed his abilities and insights, propelling him to craft and fortify infrastructures conducive to sustained business growth.

As COO, Murakami will lead operations, training, supply chain, culinary, franchise operations and new bakery and restaurant openings. His responsibilities include partnering with cross-functional departments, identifying opportunities and gaps, formulating and implementing robust processes and systems to ensure scalability and ease for the team.

Murakami expressed his enthusiasm about the promotion, stating, “Assuming the role of chief operating officer at Sprinkles and Picnik is a tremendous honor. I am devoted to leveraging our team’s strengths, harnessing operational excellence, and charting a growth trajectory that maintains our commitment to exceptional guest experiences. I am excited about the opportunity to not only drive innovation and sustainable expansion for our business, but to continue nurturing and developing the people I work with every day.”

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