Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is committing to increase sustainability for its Retail Brand (private brand) packaging by the end of 2028. The announcement is in response to feedback provided by SEG’s customers, associates and community members who expressed their desire to see more sustainable packaging as their top sustainability concern.

As part of its pledge, SEG will overhaul its Retail Brand packaging by eliminating polystyrene, making all packaging reusable, recyclable or industrially compostable, and include an average of 30% post-consumer recycled material in all packaging.

Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “At Southeastern Grocers, we value feedback from our customers, associates and communities and prioritize the matters that mean the most to them. We heard clearly that sustainable packaging is among their top concerns, and we listened! In response, we are working with our supplier partners to establish sustainable packaging goals and meet our commitments in 2028. We strive to be the grocer people can always count on, and we mean always.”

In addition to implementing sustainable packaging for its Retail Brand products, SEG is also partnering with How2Recycle, a standardized labeling system for packaging that clearly communicates recycling instructions to consumers based on packaging specifications. How2Recycle takes the guesswork out of recycling and is designed to follow guidance from the US Federal Trade Commission. To begin this new partnership, SEG will start adding How2Recycle’s label to their product packaging to help educate customers on how to best recycle the packaging and prevent more material from going to the landfill.

SEG Own Brand Packaging Policy

We asked our customers, associates, and community members to share their top sustainability concerns. We heard a resounding: sustainable packaging. In response, we are working with our supplier partners to work towards industry established sustainable packaging goals.

To begin this new partnership, SEG will start adding How2Recycle to their Own Brand product packaging to help educate customers on how to best recycle the packaging and prevent more material from going to the landfill. Therefore, we commit to the following goals and timelines for Own Brand packaging:

1. Eliminate polystyrene packaging by the end of 2028.
2. Have an average of at least 30% post-consumer recycled content in all packaging by the end of 2028.
3. All Own Brand packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or industrially compostable by the end of 2028*.
4. Provide clear recycling communications on 100% of Own Brand packaging by the end of 2028**.

You can always count on us! We mean always, whether that’s tomorrow or in 40 years. Part of being a grocer that you can always count on means supporting the transition to more sustainable packaging. Since Southeastern Grocers’ Own Brand packaging is just one link in the packaging value chain we will work with manufacturers and other stakeholders to help ensure materials stay in use and avoid the landfill.

*while maintaining food safety and product integrity

**where space allows