Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) in partnership with its member retailers contributed $138,250 to non-profit organizations through its Save-A-Label program in 2022. This community-giving project donates to schools and nonprofits while encouraging consumers to support local independent grocers

The simple program makes a big impact. In one year, the program turns more than 1.2 million cases of Best Choice Family of Brands products purchased by consumers into funds to help organizations. Participants collect Best Choice, Clearly by Best Choice or Best Choice Superior Selections Retail-owned Brand labels and send them to AWG for cash.

“The Save-A-Label program is looking to grow over the next few years with the help of AWG’s member retailers,” said Cara Finger, AWG Brands marketing manager. “By highlighting the program in their stores, AWG member retailers are helping to significantly impact and give back to their communities.”

To qualify to participate, schools and organizations simply need to have 501(c)(3) status. While each participating organization has a specific cause they are working for, they all have one thing in common; they want to make their communities a better place. More than 1,600 groups participated this year.

“It is a blessing to have programs like Save-A-Label that help the ministries of our church.” said Pastor Daryl Lee, from Disney Assembly of God, a Save-A-Label program participant.

The Save-A-Label program was launched in 1987, two years after the introduction of the Best Choice brand. It was originally developed as a short-term promotion to help local grocers support their communities, but it became so popular that it continued as a permanent program. In 2014, the Clearly by Best Choice products were introduced and gave customers another way to earn funds. Best Choice Superior Selections, the newest member of the Best Choice portfolio of brands, came about in 2020 adding even more quality products for consumers to purchase and another brand that qualifies for the program.