Sustainability
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SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 We also worked very hard in 2020 to Expanding our product During a time of record We continue to increase address the acute needs of our customers donation program to include consumption of meals at our selection of healthy FOREWORD and communities. The pandemic saw the dairy and frozen items and home, we also helped our products and expanded our loss of more than 10 million jobs, causing a participating in community customers save money successful Weis By Nature record number of American households with giveaways to provide milk through our various price program, offering products children to be considered food insecure. and meat to community reduction programs that are certified organic or The United States Department of Agriculture members in need led us to including our Low, Low contain no artificial flavors, reported that demand at food banks set a company record of Price program. We preservatives, colors or Dear Friends, increased 54 percent. nearly 2.3 million pounds of expanded the program ingredients. As a private food donated. in 2020 to reduce the brand program, it offers prices on 60 high-demand brand name quality for less. While 2020 has been a year of great sadness produce items. and challenge for our country, I look back with extreme pride at the thousands of We focused on conserving resources and reducing waste. In 2020, we: Weis associates who embraced their roles We mobilized our staff to respond as essential workers during the COVID-19 to challenges in their communities pandemic. Improved energy Replaced 27 of Instituted a new Celebrated the Developed four posed by COVID-19, and they did not efficiency in our older trucks. pallet recycling opening of our new new stores with disappoint. In 2020, we: our stores and Seventy-three program that store in Dingmans similar sustainable Keeping our customers and communities warehouses percent of our reduced our landfill Ferry, Pa., featuring design features, safe and our shelves stocked were our top through the 143-truck fleet waste by over 140 daylighting, energy opening in 2021. operational priorities in 2020, but I’m proud Processed 2,500 COVID-19 tests at continued rollout now meets 2017 tons in just four efficient building that we also continued to make progress of our LED lighting EPA GHG emission months! controls, and LEED select Weis pharmacies. toward becoming an even more sustainable program. standards. inspired design. company. When launching our sustainability Expanded Weis2Go and delivery to program in 2010, our goal was to reduce 183 locations. our environmental impact, particularly in the seven states where we operate. This 2020 Donated nearly 2.3 million pounds of We are proud of our progress in 2020 and are grateful to Sustainability Report highlights our progress food and $1.4 million to address food our associates for their hard work and dedication. As we over the past year and decade. Having met insecurity. celebrate Earth Month, we remain committed to continually all our goals for 2020, our sustainability assessing our environmental impact and looking for ways to team is now at work developing new targets build on our progress. for the company. Today, we remain steadfast in our commitment to social responsibility, In response, our associates raised money for sustainable food and agricultural programs, regional hunger organizations through our and reducing our carbon footprint. As store-level Fight Hunger cause marketing Sincerely, capacities of Mid-Atlantic region landfills program. We supplemented our customers’ decrease, managing food waste becomes generosity with corporate donations to Jonathan Weis even more important to our sustainability regional foodbanks, donating more than Chairman and Chief Executive Officer efforts. $1.4 million in 2020. 2 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 | 3 When launching our Weis By Nature product line last year, no one could have foreseen how successful—and necessary—it would become in 2020. The line was created to provide our customers with wholesome, nutritious food that is also good for the planet. The products include our certified Organic segment and our Free From segment that contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, or ingredients. With more people cooking at home this year than ever, we are glad to have been able to not only bring these products to shelves but expand the line. This year more than 100 new products were added, including new sustainable seafood and meat options. We also introduced products like bamboo towels and bath tissue that are FSC-certified and sustainably sourced. Our new biodegradable sugarcane-based and bowls are perfect for your future get-togethers. And this is just the beginning! Keep an eye out for more Weis By Nature EXPIRES 12/31/21 products in 2021 and the years to come. OFF Weis By Nature Enjoy this $0.50-off coupon to try Produce Salads one of our Weis By Nature salads. Redeemable at all Weis locations. Limit one coupon per household. Good through December 31, 2021. Void if reproduced. markets 4 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 | 5 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Our Associates COVID-19 Safety in Stores 2020 stretched our communities like few events in modern times. We organized donation events and partnered with local community groups to give away food and other supplies to help care for our community members and associates. 15,000 50% associates were hired increase over in 2020. last year Community outreach Installed sneeze Supplied plastic Associate incentives: guards on all face shields, We hosted In April, the need for plastic bags nearly doubled, while registers, customer latex gloves, and local food pantries faced unprecedented demand. service desks, and reusable and Sign-on, attendance and holiday pharmacy counters. disposable surgical We arranged a donation of bonuses, associate and holiday masks for our store, 50+ discounts, COVID-19 pay, and gift community events distribution, and plastic bags cards, totaling $30 million. Weis manufacturing including 6 Farmer Meet and Greets, 84,000 Markets associates have also received associates. Holiday Open Houses, and a Halloween from our vendor to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. a 10% discount on all private brand drive-in movie screening. products since 2012. to community members in We sponsored Distributed Screened associates’ our hometown, Sunbury, temperatures before sports teams Pa., in partnership with the starting work each Greater Susquehanna Valley from local youth and Little League 10,000 Celebrating our associates’ day. teams up to the Baltimore Orioles gallons of milk United Way. service anniversaries: and Penn State athletics. free-of-charge Cleaned and sanitized stores before opening, after closing, and at We supplied least once an hour, especially in high- schools contact areas such in our area with needed as registers, credit- materials, including stationery, Added social debit terminals, reusable bags, and milk crates distancing door handles, and for storage. markers and hand shopping carts and sanitizer stations. baskets. 1,376 812 579 356 330 183 137 70 20 4 1 10-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 years years years years years years years years years years 60+ years 6 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 | 7 Weis typically offers Donations and Volunteering store tours to children and adults focused on nutrition and food labels, as Partnered with Continued publishing In 2020 we to causes we believe in, well as cooking and FieldTrip Factory our HealthyBites donated over $3.4 Million including: Launched our Held virtual to host an magazine which other classes. online platform, cooking and interactive online features the latest Healthie, to nutrition nutrition education food and nutrition provide dietary workshops for series called the information, healthy Due to counseling to all age groups. MyPlate Games for eating tips, tasty customers from elementary and seasonal recipes, COVID-19, we: the safety of their middle school-aged and new product homes. children. spotlights. Weis Day of Weis Paws American Heart Weis 4 School Paralyzed Veterans Weis Fight Giving for Pets Association of America Hunger $129,000 $292,000 $315,000 $500,000 $809,000 $1.4 Million Health & Wellness Our 140 pharmacies provided 5 of our pharmacies provided 2,804 122k+ free children’s vitamin pounds of medication new patients 900+ prescriptions Nutrition & Lifestyle Initiatives accepted for positively impacted 2,500 incineration to ensure in 2020. 55k+ flu shots free drive-thru and proper disposal and curbside COVID-19 tests. avoid misuse. non-flu Customer 27k+ immunizations Weis registered dietitians Testimonial: offer one-on-one nutrition Through late March 2021, of our pharmacies began offering COVID-19 vaccinations to qualified groups. guidance while you shop. “A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed 105 with Type 2 Diabetes, and Lyndi Wieand [a dietician at our Lehigh Valley locations] was highly recommended by my doctor’s office. When I met with Lyndi to discuss my new diet plan, she was very well Education prepared. I was very nervous about Since 1977, the Weis In the last 43 years, Weis Our Nutrifacts shelf tags my new eating plan, but she made it scholarship program has has provided $3.6 million guide customers to foods We awarded 40 very simple to understand and follow. awarded more than 1,300 in scholarship assistance. that meet healthy lifestyle scholarships with a total Many thanks to Weis, Lyndi, and this scholarships to associates needs. value of $100,000 to Weis tremendous service!” and children of associates. associates or their children to attend college. 8 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 | 9 FOOD & AGRICULTURE Reducing and diverting food waste At Weis Markets, we pride ourselves on supplying local, fresh foods and reducing Decrease food loss Weis Markets has been a We diverted 9,395 tons of Our and waste by U.S.