The Friday Checkout is a weekly column providing more insight on the news, rounding up the announcements you may have missed and sharing what’s to come.
Following the unexpected severity of Hurricane Helene, grocers large and small are helping communities impacted by the deadly and destructive storm.
Earlier this week, Kroger announced it is supporting disaster relief by distributing truckloads of drinkable water and ice to impacted communities. Harris Teeter locations and all Kroger stores across the Atlanta and Nashville divisions are allowing customers to make donations at checkout through the end of October — which Kroger will match in a grant — to benefit the American Red Cross.
Hy-Vee has linked with Operation BBQ Relief to help provide needed supplies and meals across the Southeast.
Publix is donating $1 million to nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross, United Way and the Florida Fund for hurricane disaster relief efforts in impacted areas, WTSP reported.
Supermarket competition gives way to collaboration and support when grocers are faced with devastating circumstances, FMI – The Food Industry Association President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin said in a Thursday statement.
“Our industry is competitive by nature, with 1.6% net profit margins on average, but when times get tough — especially in the case of disaster — we deliver food, water, and necessary supplies,” Sarasin said. “We come together regardless of competition to ensure we keep the nation fed, as evidenced by our unflappable work during a global COVID-19 pandemic and the recent devastation by Hurricane Helene.”
In case you missed it
The merger’s $500 million-price tag for Colorado
On Monday, Arthur Biller, a lawyer from the Colorado Attorney General’s office, argued in court that the Kroger-Albertsons merger would cost consumers in the state as much as $500 million a year due to lack of competition, The Denver Post reported.
Kroger attorney Matt Wolf rejected this argument in court and claimed, according to the paper, that the merger would improve competition in the industry against the likes of Walmart, Costco and Amazon.
SpartanNash invests in new childcare benefits for associates
The company announced Tuesday it is expanding its employee benefits program by providing new care options for children, adult dependents and older family members as well as several daycare benefit options. Depending on eligibility, SpartanNash’s benefits could save employees around $6,000 annually.
Meijer recognized by EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Program has recognized the Midwest regional retailer for the fourth consecutive year for having the lowest corporate-wide refrigerant emissions rate out of all GreenChill partners nationwide over the past year, according to a Tuesday announcement.
The recognition comes less than a week after Meijer announced it had achieved its carbon emissions reduction goal a year ahead of schedule.
Impulse find
Halloween bash at Bashas’
As Halloween nears, the Arizona grocer invites its customers to “creep and crawl” in costume into its stores on Oct. 26 to celebrate with candy, photo-ops and prizes, according to NAZ Today.
More than 40 of the grocer’s locations are participating, as well as its Bashas’ Diné Markets on the Navajo Nation and Eddie’s Country Store in Pinetop. Each store will host a “best children’s costume” contest where winners will receive a $25 grocery gift card and a dozen donuts.
Bashas’ employees will also dress up to man trick-or-treat candy stations in each department and offer free mini cookies and apple juice to trick-or-treaters.
The grocer will dish out out a Halloween cake for $6 and/or a cookie for $1 from its bakery for ghouls and ghosts to decorate in-store. For the monsters who can’t hang, the grocer will sell take-home decorating kits.
