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GOURMET NEWS NOVEMBER 2017 www.gourmetnews.com RETAILER NEWS 9 Hurricane Heroes Continued from PAGE 1 particular – H-E-B and Publix – stay open as long as possible before a hurricane hits, so their customers can stock up on much- needed supplies, especially if they're going to shelter in place. And they reopen – if they closed at all – the very minute it's pos- sible to do so, because they know their cus- tomers will need to restock the milk, the ice, the bottled water, the baby formula after the worst of the emergency has passed and recovery begins. "In a way, we're first responders," says Maria Brous, a Publix spokesman who's based in Lakeland, Florida. "We see it as part of our mission to help our communi- ties in so many ways. For people to have a smile and a warm cup of coffee … to use the phone charging stations we had set up … just all that stuff that we don't think about in that kind of situation." In Houston, H-E-B Steps Up Kimberly Weiberg lives near that Vintage Park H-E-B, and shops there regularly. She's lived in Houston for going on 16 years, and says the store "always has a good produce selection, friendly people, and wonderful sampling, especially on the weekend. They have a nice organic section, and you can grind your own peanut butter there." While Weiberg purchases some items at stores closer to her home in Norchester, a Houston suburb, she goes to H-E-B for one thing in particular: "H-E-B is where I pur- chase meats because I feel more comfort- able about the quality, and they do have good prices on meat." Weiberg and her family left town the day before Harvey hit, headed first to Dallas and then back to family in Missouri. "I stocked up before we left, though, so when we returned, I was able to help neighbors through the outreach program of my church, which is called Mercy Ministry." It was while assembling packages of emergency aid after the storm had passed that Weiberg's friendly feelings toward H- E-B skyrocketed. "We're putting together these packages for Mercy Ministry, and up comes a tractor- trailer full of paper products – mostly toilet paper – and somebody said, 'That's from H- E-B.' And then I learned about H-E-B's $5 million donation to J.J. Watt's (tight end for the Houston Texans) hurricane relief fund. It's so cool to see people doing that." H-E-B's concern for its com- munity continues, she says. "I've seen posters about H-E-B giving free tetanus shots," she reports. "But in terms of char- ity, everyone is not wanting to take because they think some- one else needs it worse." Kelly Akey, also of Norch- ester, sheltered in place during the storm, and shopped at the H-E-B the night before Harvey made landfall. "I didn't go to that H-E-B for a little while after the storm because the parking lot was flooded, as were the streets from my house to H-E-B, so I'm not really sure when they re-opened," she says. The employee who spotted the tornado told her about it on her next visit to the store after the storm. In Florida, Publix Hopes to Help Publix's spokesman Brous says the com- pany was eager to send aid to hard-hit Houston after Harvey. "We sent five trailers of water," she says, "and H-E-B was so gra- cious that, just a few days after that, they sent 10 trailers to us – seven trailers of water, two of ice, and one of assorted food, cleaning supplies and baby needs." The company and its customers have al- ways been generous, she says. "Right after Harvey hit Texas, we opened a register campaign where customers could make a donation to the Red Cross for Texans. In less than five days, we raised $2.5 million for hurricane relief, and Publix Super Mar- ket Charities, our non-profit, also donated an additional $250,000 to that effort." Another register campaign was begun right after Hurricane Irma, Brous says, and that one is still on-going. "But Publix Char- ities has donated $1 million to the Red Cross and the United Way to help the re- covery process." Publix, which is headquartered in Florida, has a lot of experience with hurri- canes, Brous says. "Back in 2004, we had four hurricanes: Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. After that, we invested in genera- tors for our stores and now, more than 700 stores have them." Harvey's effect on Houston may have en- couraged Publix customers to prepare for Irma, Brous says. "We saw our customers preparing earlier, getting to the store and stocking up before the storm." In Irma's aftermath, she says, "we had some water damage for some stores, but no significant issues. We did have more than 400 stores on auxiliary power. All of our stores have reopened, and now we're help- ing our neighbors in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands." But hurricane season has been tough on all grocery stores, she says. "We have an amazing warehouse and logistics team. Those teams literally worked around the clock to get bottled water, batteries, bread, diapers and formula to our stores, and those items are all still in high demand." At the heart of Publix's generosity is the company's "deeply personal relationship with our customers and our communities," Brous says. "It's all about the people and the bonds we make with our customers. The one thing that can't be replicated is our people and their desire to serve." GN Kroger Hosts First Natural Foods Innovation Summit The Kroger Co. hosted its first natural foods innovation summit, in partnership with 84.51°, on October 12 in Cincinnati, Ohio, with keynote speaker Joy Bauer, MS, RD, CDN. "Kroger is proud of the role we've played in making natural and organic products more affordable and accessible to America," said Jill McIntosh, Kroger's Vice President of Natural Foods. "This category was a $16 billion business for us in 2016, and today's company-produced expo is an innovation platform that allows us to continue to ex- pand our natural foods product portfolio by partnering with emerging brands on micro and macro levels." Top trends in natural foods are holistic health, convenience and sustainability. Consumer insights show that customers are adopting a 360-degree approach to health and wellness, including greater consumption of natural foods to prevent illnesses. A growing number of customers are seeking healthier on-the-go snacks and meals, and nutritional drinks are in- creasingly becoming meal replacements. Kroger's team of buyers continuously look for opportunities to purchase region- ally that allow the company to expand its product portfolio for customers, stimulate the local economy and enhance product freshness. Sourcing locally also supports the company's sustainability commitments, including Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative. Recently, Kroger joined the Sustainable Packaging Coalition ® , a membership-based collaborative of like- minded companies striving to advance sus- tainable packaging. This new trade show is part of the Re- stock Plan that Kroger announced at its annual investor conference, McIntosh said. "Customer lifestyles are evolving, and as America's grocer, we understand the im- portance of carrying relevant products at affordable prices that are meaningful to the nearly nine million customers we serve daily in our family of stores," she added. Kroger will begin to host Natural Foods Innovation Summit events a few times per year. Local and natural foods brands can visit www.kroger.com/we arelocal to learn how to join Kroger's family of suppliers. GN PHOTOS COURTESY OF KROGER

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