SEG Donates $1.1M+ in Supplies for Ukraine Relief
Southeastern Grocers Inc. is extending additional support for Ukraine relief with a donation of more than $1.1 million worth of cleaning and sanitation supplies, personal protective equipment and nonperishable food items to humanitarian nonprofit organization Mission 823.
“At Southeastern Grocers, we always put people first, whether they are in our five-state footprint or across the globe,” said Anthony Hucker, president and CEO. “We refuse to stand idle when the people of Ukraine are in urgent need. As a grocer, we know how important it is for our communities to have access to basic yet essential products, and through our partnership with Mission 823, it is our hope we can help provide some sense of comfort to the Ukrainian people. SEG stands with Ukraine.”
SEG’s donation will benefit Mission 823, a humanitarian nonprofit organization on the ground in Ukraine that seeks to help and protect at-risk children, including orphans and those on the streets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and childhood traumas felt in war-torn areas. The organization also works with local task forces to help rescue children from human trafficking.
Shawn Sullivan, founder of Mission 823, said, “We are grateful to Southeastern Grocers for their generous contribution in support of the Ukrainian people. It’s because of compassionate, people-forward companies like SEG that we’re able to provide essential aid to evacuees and other at-risk groups. The situation in Ukraine continues to worsen and among the most affected are children. Thanks to SEG, we will be able to help more people during the most trying time of their lives.”
This donation of more than $1.1 million in supplies and nonperishable food items builds upon SEG’s support to the citizens of Ukraine. The grocer was among the first retailers to provide immediate aid with its charitable foundation’s donation of $250,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support Ukraine and its citizens as they fight to defend their country. SEG also has committed 100 percent of the proceeds from its private label Ukrainian vodka to the cause through March 31.
To learn more about Mission 823 and its efforts to help the people of Ukraine, or to make a donation, please visit www.mission823.com.
Has your specialty foods industry company donated funds or supplies to Ukraine relief? Gourmet News would like to know. Please email Senior Editor A.J. Flick, aj_f@oser.com, with your news.
Healthy Snack StickyLickits Features YouTuber at Walmart in 11 States
Healthy snack StickyLickits, a line of edible stickers that entice kids to be more adventurous eaters, especially when it comes to fruits and veggies, is featuring YouTube kidfluencer Ryan Kaji of Ryan’s World at more than 350 Walmart stores in California, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Oregon, New Mexico and Montana.
“Every parent knows that it can be a struggle for young children to taste and eat the healthier foods on their plates,” said Linda York, grandmother of two and founder and CEO of StickyLickits. “Our all-natural, edible stickers help to motivate children to eat more fruits and vegetables because they make mealtime more fun. Parents also love StickyLickits because the stickers encourage children to taste a variety of foods and build healthier eating habits.”
Using the bite-size stickers is simple: kids simply lick, stick, and eat their creations. The dissolving stickers are 100 percent natural with a tapioca base that kids say tastes like marshmallows or cotton candy. StickyLickits do not contain sugar, additives, or allergens like soy, dairy, or peanuts. They’re also kosher, vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free. Packages contain 30 stickers each and can be found in Walmart’s produce department, right next to the fruits and veggies they’re designed to encourage.
“StickyLickits helps to capture the lively imaginations that children bring to the dinner table,” said York. “Most importantly, the stickers help to introduce and nurture a healthy relationship with food.”
While formulating a sticker with all-natural ingredients has been a top priority from the start, so has the stickers’ design. Researchers at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy found that 5- and 6-year-olds choose healthy foods such as kiwis, carrots and tomatoes over their usual name-brand snacks if the healthy items had a sticker featuring their favorite cartoon character. Even kids who had never tried or overtly disliked the healthier options were still swayed by the sticker.
Now, three years after the healthy snack first launched in October 2019, StickyLickits span numerous designs featuring popular characters including Sesame Street, Paw Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants and now Ryan’s World, along with the original Doodle Dums and Making Faces designs.
StickyLickits’ latest design, which rolls out exclusively in select Walmart stores this month, showcases nine-year-old Ryan’s World influencer Ryan Kaji’s animated alter egos: Super Hero – Red Titan, Daring Detective – Super Spy, and Global Adventurer – World Tour. A slight shift from the previous cartoon-inspired packaging, the new design reflects the growing prominence of kidfluencers and their loyal following.
“Aligning with a brand like Ryan’s World adds to the appeal of StickyLickits,” said York. “Ryan is fun, familiar, and relatable to kids. He and his family are also big believers in the importance of encouraging healthy eating habits.”
The Ryan’s World franchise spans a YouTube channel with more than 30 million subscribers, as well as games, apps, and consumer products. While much of the content centers on play and toys, Ryan and his family also share informative, educational content featuring everything from science experiments to family adventures.
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Good Eggs Online Grocery Expands in Orange County
Good Eggs has introduced its online grocery marketplace across Orange County, bringing the brand’s food offerings and service to Orange County residents as it continues its expansion throughout Southern California.
Good Eggs offers an award-winning food assortment filled with locally sourced, organic groceries and meal offerings, the creation of thousands of jobs that pay living wages, customer service and the highest sourcing standards in the industry with sustainability practices that include 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging in every box.
“From our inception, Good Eggs has committed to a bold approach in grocery, one that is designed to repair our broken food system and force change by delivering quality without question and convenience without compromise,” said CEO Bentley Hall.
From an assortment of fresh groceries, local produce — sourced within 250 miles — and everyday staples to rotating selections of easy meal kits and ready-to-eat entrees, the online grocery marketplace will also feature SoCal favorites such as premium plant-based meats from Abbot’s Butcher, dates from Rancho Meladuco Date Farm, dairy products from Good Culture, cakes and cookies baked daily by Sweet Laurel and strawberries from California legend Harry’s Berries, among others.
Good Eggs will deliver to Anaheim, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Yorba Linda and more.
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