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Aldi Promotes Hart to Global Office, McGrath to US CEO
Aldi U.S. has promoted Jason Hart, Aldi U.S. Chief Executive Officer to join the Executive Board of Aldi South as Group Chief Operating Officer. Hart will help oversee the company’s global operations in Salzburg, Austria, effective Sept. 1. Atty McGrath, currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume the U.S. Chief Executive role.
During his decade-long leadership as CEO, Hart has led the rapid expansion and development of the brand, overseeing the store count nearly double from 1,300 in 32 states to 2,500 across 39 states. Aldi has become the fastest-growing grocer in America, renowned for its employee-first mentality, industry leading sustainability commitments and pledge to serving customers with the lowest prices of any national grocery store.
“I am honored to take on this new role with Aldi supporting our global business,” said Hart. “The growth and positive development of the Aldi brand we’ve achieved together in the U.S. is a tribute to our incredible teams across the business. I look forward to working with Aldi teams around the globe to drive our growth and success.”
McGrath brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this critical role, serving most recently as Chief Operating Officer. McGrath has spent her entire 20-year career with Aldi, holding a variety of positions ranging from district manager, director of operations, division vice president and most recently chief operating officer.
“On behalf of the entire Aldi U.S. team, I extend heartfelt thanks to Jason for his unwavering dedication and remarkable leadership,” said McGrath. “I am excited to build upon our momentum, expand our footprint and continue adapting to serve our customers.”
As part of its aggressive growth strategy, Aldi U.S. plans to open 800 new stores over the next five years, with a target of more than 225 locations opening this year alone, a record for the retailer. Already this year, It has opened 55 stores with 75 more locations set to open this summer in key growth markets such as Arizona, California, Florida and South Carolina as well as established markets like the Midwest and Northeast.
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Southeastern Grocers’ Folds of Honor Campaign Returns
Southeastern Grocers, LLC, parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie, proudly answers the call to serve with the launch of its annual community donation program in support of Folds of Honor, a dedicated nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled military members.
From now until June 17, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can honor U.S. military heroes while shopping at their neighborhood stores by donating $1, $5 or rounding up their grocery bill to the nearest dollar at checkout. Every contribution directly supports the children and spouses of the American service members who gave everything in defense of freedom.
Anthony Hucker, Chairman, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “Our partnership with Folds of Honor is rooted in our compassion and respect for the military families who make up the very fabric of our nation, especially in the Southeast. As we enter our eighth year of giving, we recognize the extraordinary sacrifices these families make in service to something greater than themselves. Together, we pay tribute to the legacy and sacrifices of these heroes while also supporting their loved ones’ access to education and greater opportunity.”
Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, CEO and Founder of Folds of Honor, said, “Freedom is never free, and behind every fallen or disabled service member is a family whose life has been forever changed. Thanks to unwavering allies like Southeastern Grocers, we are turning gratitude into action by providing scholarships that open doors for the families of America’s heroes. SEG continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with our military families, and in doing so, they are helping shape the next generation of leaders, dreamers and changemakers.”
Since 2018, SEG has donated more than $8 million to Folds of Honor with the help of its customers, associates and foundation. The funds have provided more than 1,600 educational scholarships for the children and spouses of fallen and disabled U.S. military service members.
All donations to SEG’s community donation program directly support Folds of Honor’s mission to honor the sacrifice of U.S. military heroes by providing life-changing scholarships to their loved ones. Scholarships awarded through Folds of Honor provide private education tuition and tutoring for children in grades K-12, as well as tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate or professional program. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided more than 52,000 educational scholarships for families of fallen and disabled military service members.
SEG’s community donation program is part of its broader campaign of support for the military community. Earlier this month, the grocer partnered with local USO centers at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and Naval Air Station Pensacola. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, ahead of Mother’s Day, the grocer surprised more than 30 military moms with heartwarming gift packages in recognition of the daily, unseen sacrifices made on the home front.
In addition to supporting military families, all Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie locations will be open during regular business hours Monday, May 26 to serve customers observing Memorial Day with their loved ones.
For more information about how to contribute to SEG’s community donation program in support of Folds of Honor, please visit a local Harveys Supermarket or Winn-Dixie store.
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Save A Lot Donates $27,700 of Oliver & Scout Pet Food
Save A Lot, one of the country’s largest discount grocery chains, donated more than $27,700 worth of Oliver & Scout pet food to help local shelters and charities care for animals in need.
For National Pet Month, participating stores and each of Save A Lot’s seven Distribution Centers partnered with local pet shelters to donate pallets of Save A Lot’s high-quality, private brand pet food, Oliver & Scout, throughout May. In total, stores donated more than 20 tons of food for homeless pets.
“We’re committed to supporting the communities we live and do business in – which includes helping our furry friends,” said Paul Hoskins, Category Manager of Pet Food at Save A Lot. “National Pet Month created a great opportunity for our stores to build connections with local shelters and highlight our private label offering. This is a cause that is important to many of us at Save A Lot and we’re proud to support the amazing work local shelters are doing to care for animals in need.”
Save A Lot’s Oliver & Scout pet food can be found at stores across the country. Formulations include adult dog food in 3.5-lb, 20-lb, and 50-lb sizes; small dog food in 3.5-lb and 20-lb sizes; and cat food in 3.5-lb and 16-lb sizes. Like all Save A Lot private brands, Oliver & Scout offers customers national brand quality pet food at a significant discount.
About Save A Lot
Founded in 1977, Save A Lot is the largest independently owned and operated discount grocery store chain in the U.S., with approximately 720 stores in 30 states. True to its mission of being a hometown grocer, Save A Lot provides unmatched quality and value to local families. Customers enjoy significant savings compared to traditional grocery stores on great tasting, high quality private label brands, national brand products, USDA-inspected meat, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, and other non-food items. For more information visit www.SaveALot.com and follow Save A Lot on Facebook (facebook.com/savealot), on X (@savealot), and Instagram (@SaveALotFoodStores), or for more information on becoming a Save A Lot independent retail operator, visit ownasavealot.com
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