SEG Honors Beloved Winn-Dixie Associate on 104th Birthday
In the spirit of spreading love and warm wishes, the grocer is inviting those near and far to share in Romay Davis’s milestone celebration by sending her a handmade or signed birthday card. (Photo: Business Wire)
Southeastern Grocers Inc., parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is celebrating its beloved Winn-Dixie associate and American Congressional Gold Medal recipient, Romay Davis, on her 104th birthday. The neighborhood grocer hosted a special in-store birthday celebration at Davis’s home Winn-Dixie store in Montgomery alongside her friends, family and local community.
In the spirit of spreading love and warm wishes, SEG is inviting those near and far to share in Davis’s milestone celebration by sending her a handmade or signed birthday card. Cards can be mailed to Southeastern Grocers at the following address:
Romay Davis c/o Southeastern Grocers
8928 Prominence Parkway, Building 200
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Raymond Rhee, chief people officer, said, “We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve, and part of our story includes incredible associates like Ms. Romay. As we celebrate her 104th birthday, we hope to express our deepest gratitude for being a part of her extraordinary story. During her military service, Ms. Romay sorted mail to bolster crucial morale for troops. This year, we are proud to return the favor by sorting her birthday mail from those near and far.”
Davis’s birthday festivities included a grand entrance featuring a performance from Parker Crossing High School’s band, remarks from SEG leadership, meet-and-greet with Alabama nonprofit community partners, a cake cutting ceremony and more.
Born on Oct. 29, 1919 in Virginia, Davis enlisted in the Army in 1943 as a Private First-Class member of the U.S. Army 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, nicknamed “Six Triple Eight.” During a time when women and people of color faced discrimination, her battalion was a predominantly Black, all-female unit deployed overseas and cleared backlog in a mere three months by sorting an average of 195,000 pieces of mail per day.
After her discharge from military service, Davis enjoyed many accomplishments including becoming a NYU multi-degree scholar, working in real estate and fashion, earning her taekwondo black belt, and more before rejoining the workforce as a Winn-Dixie associate in 2001.
A true pioneer of her time, Davis is also the namesake of SEG’s Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant. The grocer, together with its charitable arm, the SEG Gives Foundation, recently accepted applications from nonprofits throughout the Southeast for its fourth annual grant program, which supports organizations that work to address racial disparities in education, health care and food insecurity. Recipient nonprofit organizations for 2023 were announced following Davis’s 104th birthday on Oct. 29.
Additionally, Davis was recently awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th annual Women Who Shape the State event in March. In 2022, she was honored by The National WWII Museum in New Orleans at its American Spirit Awards with a Silver Service Medallion, a recognition reserved for those who have served our country with distinction.
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Pass the Mustard – and Get a Peek at July’s Gourmet News
Since 1992, the National Mustard Museum has been celebrating National Mustard Day on the first Saturday in August, paying tribute to the Greatest (Condiment) Of All Time. Hubbard Avenue in front of the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wis., will be the scene with hot dogs and bratwursts, mustard ice cream, hot soft pretzels, mustard tastings, live music and mustard games for kids of all ages on Saturday, Aug. 6.
Live music begins on the French’s Music Stage at 10 am with The Blue Accordion. Madison’s own Black Star Drum Line will rock the streets with its heart-pounding precision beats at 11 am, followed by afternoon headliners The Dawg Bones. At the Family Tent, the popular Kids Are People Too! will delight the crowds with interactive rock ‘n roll shows, and everyone will want to take part in the new “Pie-Walk” (better than the old-fashioned “cake-walk”) sponsored by the Hubbard Avenue Diner.
Usinger’s of Milwaukee returns as the official sausage sponsor of National Mustard Day. There will be plenty of mustards to slather on your dogs and brats. A special addition this year will be mustard-flavored ice cream from Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company. New activities include a portable rock climbing wall and a mustard speed pitching game. Can you cut the mustard?
Renowned New York artist Steven Marcus will be inside the Museum with his new exhibition of fanciful mustard art.
Details of all the activities and a schedule are online.
The National Mustard Museum recently concluded the annual World-Wide Mustard Competition and on Mustard Day, visitors will have the opportunity to taste many of the medal winning mustards, including the 2022 Grand Champion Tiger Tail Curry Mustard.
The nonprofit National Mustard Museum holds the world’s largest collection of mustards (more than 6,500) and mustard memorabilia. Mustard lovers will have the opportunity to buy the museum’s book, The Art of Mustard, with more than 600 pictures of objects and artifacts in the museum collection. The popular game, Please Pass the Mustard!, will also be available for sale, as are hundreds of mustards and other gourmet foods.
For those unable to attend the festival, the museum will launch a Mustard Day YouTube video, with mustard greetings from around the world, on the morning of Aug. 6. the museum will also host a live Mustard Day Zoom at 5 pm CDT on Aug. 6. Details and links will be available on the Mustard Museum’s web sites, www.mustardmuseum.com and www.mustardmuseum.org, the week before Mustard Day.
In the July issue of Gourmet News: More on the National Mustard Museum and its coveted condiment. The issue will be posted online on July 1. Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss fun features as this!
2022 Sizzles So Far for Craft Meat Producer The Baconer
As published in the March issue of Gourmet News.
California-based craft meat producer The Baconer, which was featured in a front cover story in February’s Gourmet News, is off to a good start this year with a new partnership, new award and new way to invest in its growth.
The Baconer, based in Emeryville, has announced a partnership with Eataly, the immersive Italian marketplace. Eataly shoppers can discover The Baconer craft meat products including the 2022 award-winning XXL Bacon Steaks, Smoked Lardons, Small Batch Bacon Strips and Ground Bacon.
The Baconer’s lineup of craft meat products is available in the meat department next to the butcher counter in Eataly stores including Eataly Boston, Eataly Chicago, Eataly Dallas, Eataly L.A., Eataly NYC Flatiron and Eataly NYC Downtown.
“In identifying a partner for The Baconer’s next phase of growth, it was important to find a leading food marketplace with a shared passion for inspiring people with the most authentic, high-quality and hand-crafted products,” said Camilo Velasquez, CEO and co-founder. “Eataly is a gastronomic wonderland. Their value proposition to bring the best regional food products to consumers aligns with our vision, and propels us forward as we continue to disrupt the bacon category.”
The Baconer is a leading craft producer focused on redefining how Americans think about, prepare, cook with and enjoy responsibly sourced, premium quality bacon and related products.
Eataly operates quality Italian markets in 11 countries around the world. Eataly is well regarded for its authentically prepared Italian foods and its use of high-quality Italian and local ingredients. Eataly locations offer an expansive marketplace, restaurant and even cooking school – the combination of which makes for an experience not found anywhere else.
“When shoppers come to Eataly – they know to expect high-quality ingredients, which is why partnering with Baconer was a perfect fit,” said Pete Molinari, Eataly’s head of meat and seafood. “They craft artisanal bacon products that are not only delicious, but crafted with care, by people who share our passion for eating better and living better.”
Perhaps Eataly shoppers will enjoy The Baconer’s XXL Smoky Paprika Bacon Steaks as much as Good Food Award judges did.
The steaks won in the charcuterie category at the 12th Annual Good Food Awards.
Crafted from responsibly sourced pork and cut ½-inch thick, the XXL Bacon Steaks bring serious flavor served on burgers, cozied up with eggs or straight up as the main event.
And perhaps bacon lovers will love all the products enough to invest in the company. Shares of The Baconer will be sold through the crowdfunding online investment site www.startengine.com.
Keep reading Gourmet News for updates on The Baconer and many other specialty food companies. Subscribe online at www.gourmetnews.com.
