Southeastern Grocers Charts Its Sustainability, Social Responsibility Progress

With an underlying mission of working toward "a more equitable and sustainable future," Southeastern Grocers (SEG) recycled more food, used fewer plastic bags and expanded its purchases of products from diverse suppliers in 2021, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company said April 19.

SEG, parent company of Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Mas and Harveys Supermarket, touted its mission-focused progress in the organization's newly released 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility Progress Report. Among the companywide accomplishments that SEG cited:

See also: WGB's 2022 Sustainable Packaging Report

"At Southeastern Grocers, we continue to put people first and position belonging, inclusion and diversity at the heart of every decision," said SEG President and CEO Anthony Hucker in a news release. "Last year, we enhanced our products to be more environmentally friendly, challenged our suppliers to do the same and worked with our customers to eliminate the use of single-use plastics. We believe it’s our responsibility to be leaders of change and we will continue to push forward for a brighter future for our people and our planet."

Earlier this month, SEG announced that it was overhauling packaging for its private-label products, with a goal of eliminating polystyrene packaging by the end of 2028. The company's Local Supplier Connect program, announced in November, builds on efforts to expand supplier diversity and "share and encourage the culture of our communities," SEG SVP and Chief Merchant Dewayne Rabon said at the time.