Nation’s Food Retailers Unite to Support Disaster Relief Effort; Donation of Food, Money and Emergency Assistance Begins Just Hours After Attack

      WASHINGTON, DC — September 14, 2001 — Food retailers across America have been responding to the recent terrorist attacks with donations of money, food, water, blood and other emergency assistance to rescue and relief efforts, according to the Food Marketing Institute (FMI).

“Time and again, food retailers across this great country have rallied together to help disaster victims,” said FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds. “The tragic events this week in New York, Pennsylvania and here in the Washington area have generated a wellspring of support from food retail companies of all sizes in every part of the country. As our hearts go out to the victims and their families, we commend the industry for it’s immediate and broad response.”

Some examples of the ways food retailers are providing assistance:

• Albertson's, Inc., Boise, ID and the American Red Cross have joined forces to support disaster relief efforts for those affected by the terrorist attacks, including in-store fundraising and blood drives. The fundraising program will run for at least four weeks, and the company has pledged to match all funds raised up to $50,000. All money collected will be donated to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund.

• Ahold USA, Sterling, VA and its chain member companies has launched the American Heroes Fund. Customers are asked to make contributions, which Ahold is matching up to one million dollars.

• Clemens Markets, Kulpsville, PA is collecting donations and conducting a clothing drive. The company is also flying American flags at all of its stores in a demonstration of solidarity.

• Farm Fresh Markets, Virginia Beach, VA announced that it is doing all of the following: Print advertising support to promote American Red Cross blood drives; radio broadcasts to promote blood and money drives at Farm Fresh stores; refreshments for all Red Cross blood drives and lunches for Red Cross volunteers; donation of $5,000 from the Farm Fresh Charitable Foundation to relief efforts; a 13 hour live broadcast with WVEC-TV Channel 13 to raise money; ongoing collections at all 37 Farm Fresh stores through front end registers – more than $63,000 raised so far; and sponsorship of a major event to assist the Red Cross at the end of month.

• Fleming Companies, Inc., Dallas, TX is working with the American Red Cross on blood donations, volunteering, monetary and in-kind contributions. The company will also match associates' financial contributions to the Red Cross. Additionally, Fleming announced that its company-owned stores – including Food4Less, Rainbow Stores and Yes!Less – will be accepting customer donations for relief operations.

• The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P), Somerset, NJ that its U.S. supermarkets will accept donations to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Customer donations, in the form of cash or checks are being accepted at the courtesy counters in all stores. A&P also made a corporate donation to the fund.

• Harris Teeter has set up areas in each of their stores to collect needed items that will be sent to affected areas. This particular collection effort will continue through Sunday, September 16. The stores located in the area of the Pentagon have provided supplies, food and water for the clean up and rescue effort and personnel.

• Heinen’s, Inc., Warrensville Heights, OH has donated gift certificates and other merchandise as prizes for a company wide, associates only raffle with all proceeds going to the Red Cross.

• Kroger Co., Cincinnati, OH is accepting donations to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Shoppers can round up their grocery bills or make a donation via check or credit card. One hundred percent of the donations will be provided to the fund.

• Lowe’s Food Stores, Inc., Winston-Salem, Inc. is accepting customer donations for the American Red Cross.

• Marsh Supermarkets, Indianapolis, IN is promoting a day of prayer and mourning and the wearing of red, white and blue today. In addition, the company is inviting customers to donate one dollar at checkout by adding it onto their bill. Proceeds benefit the Red Cross.

• Minyard Food Stores, Inc., Coppell, TX is collecting money for the American Red Cross and hosting radio broadcasts at retail locations to promote customer donations.

• Neimann Foods, Quincy, IL is selling t-shirts for five dollars with all proceeds going to the Red Cross.

• Pathmark Supermarkets, Carteret, NJ announced two programs for people affected by the recent tragedy at the World Trade Center. Customers may contribute up to $5 at all Pathmark Supermarkets by using in-store scan cards, with collected funds sent to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Pathmark also is donating truckloads of vital products to help the victims of the disaster as well as providing food and other materials to the rescue workers.

• Price Chopper, Schenectady, NY is implementing a chain-wide disaster relief program in all stores. This program, entitled “My Help Counts,” will allow customers to make cash donations at the checkout register. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross. In Albany, the company will partner with Channel 13 to raise funds.

• Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, FL is offering customers the opportunity to donate money to the American Red Cross. The company’s Atlanta division is also supporting blood drives by donating refreshments to the donors.

• Randall’s Food Markets and KPRC-TV, Channel 12 in Houston have partnered to offer the “Neighbors in Need” fundraising program in all Houston-area Randall’s stores.
  All proceeds from one- and five-dollar scan cards purchased by Randall’s customers will go to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund. The program runs through September 26.

• Safeway, Inc., Pleasanton, CA is raising money for the American Red Cross through its 1,750 stores across the country. Signs encourage both shoppers and employees to make contributions. All Safeway, Vons, Dominick's, Randall's, Tom Thumb, Carr's and Genuardi's stores are participating in the fundraising efforts. In addition, Safeway's Eastern Division has donated a significant amount of emergency merchandise, such as water, batteries, milk and other food items to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, as well as local fire departments in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia areas.

• Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc., East Bridgewater, MA is working with the American Red Cross and America’s Second Harvest to raise funds and donations.

• ShopRite, Carteret, NJ has made a contribution of $100,000 to establish a fund to benefit the families and individuals who have been impacted by this terrible disaster. Customers can make donations to the fund at any ShopRite store. Cashiers have the ability to add $2 and/or $5 to the customer's purchase. Donations will be distributed to victims through the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. Additionally, the company has provided the New York and New Jersey law enforcement, area hospitals and rescue squads with food, bottled water, diapers, formula and transportation in addition to other supplies requested.

• SUPERVALU, Inc., Minneapolis, MN donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross to assist in the disaster relief efforts. In addition, localized efforts are being organized at SUPERVALU distribution centers and stores across the country, including blood drives and product donations. All SUPERVALU retail companies are coordinating their efforts through the Red Cross.

• Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, NY launched a checkout donation program that allows customers to donate one dollar or more to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The chain also reports that stores in each of its market areas are providing food and beverages to local American Red Cross chapters. The company’s efforts began with four Wegmans tractor-trailers arriving in New York City last night. Three of the trucks were filled with cots, blankets, and pillows that were requested by New York City Police from a Rochester-area police-supply company. The fourth was filled with $16,000 of products Wegmans donated. The company worked directly with the NYC Red Cross to identify needed items, including paper products, hand sanitizers, plastic utensils, food and beverages. The trucks received a NY State Police escort in order to be sure they arrived to their appointed destination.

• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., Jacksonville, FL has an “Even-It-Up” program to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Customers may even their total up to the next dollar and Winn-Dixie will make up the difference as a donation. Customers may also make a donation in any amount and add it to their bill. The proceeds will be given directly to the Fund.

For the latest information on rescue and relief efforts, please visit the websites of the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org), the Salvation Army (www.salvationarmy.org), United Way of New York (www.uwnyc.org), Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov) and America’s Second Harvest (www.secondharvest.org).