CINCINNATI, April 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger
Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced its new progress and results for
Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, the company's bold plan to help create
communities free of hunger and waste by 2025.
"This past year has been a challenge for so many—especially
those who are trying to provide for their families amid hardship,"
said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's
chairman and CEO. "In 2020, we continued to deliver on the
principles of our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste commitment, focusing on
ways to support food insecure individuals and families and reduce
waste across our entire organization. We have made considerable
progress, and the momentum we've achieved shows that the Kroger
Family of Companies is always striving for a better tomorrow."
The continued economic impacts of COVID-19 reflect the relevance
and impact of Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan. The company
remains dedicated to building a more resilient and equitable food
system and global supply chain.
Kroger's ongoing commitment to a future without hunger and waste
achieved the following notable milestones in 2020:
Zero Hunger
- Kroger directed $213 million in
charitable giving to help end hunger in its communities, with the
organization's total charitable giving reaching $301 million.
- Kroger associates rescued 90 million pounds of wholesome food
from its stores, food processing plants and distribution centers
through its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Food Rescue program. While
total surplus food donations declined 10% as more customers were
stocking up and preparing meals at home, increased charitable
donations enabled critical feeding programs in our communities.
- In food and funds combined, Kroger directed a record one-year
total of 640 million meals to individuals and families struggling
with hunger across the country, an increase from 493 million meals
in 2019.
Zero Waste
- Kroger achieved 81% waste diversion from landfills
company-wide, up 1% from the prior year. The company also reduced
total trash sent to landfills by 4% versus the prior year.
- Kroger expanded its food waste recycling programs to 2,285
stores, up from 2,120 stores in 2019, reflecting the launch of new
programs in the retailer's Central (Illinois and Indiana), Dallas and Houston supermarket divisions.
- 31 of 34 Kroger-operated manufacturing plants are Zero Waste
facilities, an important milestone against the company's Zero Waste
goals.
Recognizing Kroger's Zero Heroes
"Freeing our
communities of hunger and waste requires leadership and commitment
from our Kroger Family of Companies and beyond. We want to
recognize and thank our Zero Heroes, associates, customers
and students around the country who have dedicated time and energy
to achieving our ambitious goals," said McMullen. "We owe a debt of
gratitude to these Zero Heroes every day as we create a
brighter future for people and our planet."
For each store team and individual associate Zero Hero,
Kroger will direct a $2,000 grant on
their behalf to a local nonprofit organization of their choice that
helps advance the collective mission.
Kroger's 2020 Zero Heroes include:
FOOD DONATION HEROES: These are the leading teams across
the country that have implemented Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Food Rescue program exceptionally well and redirected thousands of
pounds of surplus food to their communities.
Store
224
Alaska
|
Store
673
Arizona
|
Store
359
California
|
Store
755
California
|
Store
059
Colorado
|
Store
263
Indiana
|
Store
970
Indiana
|
Store
537
Illinois
|
Store
015
Kansas
|
Store
392
Kentucky
|
Store
407
Kentucky
|
Store
737
Michigan
|
Store
492 Mississippi
|
Store
341
Nevada
|
Store
891
Ohio
|
Store
671
South
Carolina
|
Store
686
Tennessee
|
Store
014
Texas
|
Store
594
Texas
|
Store
501
Virginia
|
Store
857
Washington
|
Mid-South
D.C.
Supply
Chain
|
Winchester
Dairy
Manufacturing
|
|
ASSOCIATE FUNDRAISING HEROES: These are the cashiers
across the Kroger Family of Companies' retail footprint who led the
way in activating donations by asking customers to help end hunger
by rounding up their order at checkout to benefit The Kroger Co.
Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation.
Jen
Tudor
Cincinnati-Dayton
Division
|
Colleen
Burrows
Columbus
Division
|
Nick
Damico
Columbus
Division
|
Beth
Tipton
Columbus
Division
|
Candice
Peterson
Dallas
Division
|
Steve
Pounds
Dallas
Division
|
Julie
Wolff
Dallas
Division
|
Rockie
Ubleman
Dallas
Division
|
Mahin
Boca
Dallas
Division
|
Anatoli
Bondarchuk
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Sonja
Smith
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Sandy
Carmichael
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Kelly
Standley
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Michelle
Rankin
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Kim
Tucker
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Patty
Kuzma
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Anton
Nordberg
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Debra
Bilyeu
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Judith
Lesliepatton
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Robin
Morris
Fred Meyer
Division
|
Debra Van
Matre
Houston
Division
|
Dee Dee
Hamby
Mid-Atlantic
Division
|
Kathy
Lange
QFC
Division
|
Kurt
Mincin
QFC
Division
|
Kroger is also recognizing nearly 2,000 dedicated students
across 42 states as Zero Heroes for taking action during the
2020-2021 school year to advance United Nations Sustainable
Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger and Goal 12: Responsible
Consumption and Production. In partnership with InnerView
Technologies, students from over 340 schools invested nearly 60,000
hours of service – despite more virtual learning and fewer
volunteer events – to support Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
mission by learning about global social and environmental issues
and taking action locally.
"We are grateful for the effort of every Zero Hero and
our entire community to lift up Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
commitment, which continues to drive meaningful outcomes," said
Keith Dailey, Kroger's group vice
president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer.
"There are still many families and communities experiencing the
impacts of hunger and waste in our country. We are committed to
doing even more to meet our goals and create a future with zero
hunger and zero waste – and we encourage other organizations to
join our moonshot mission."
About The Kroger Co.
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we
are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the
Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half
a million associates who serve 60 million households annually
through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner
names. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste
communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and
investor relations site.
About The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Foundation
The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Foundation (the "Foundation") is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded
in 2018. The Foundation was formed to support initiatives that
create communities free of hunger and waste.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.