Food Lion honored by Defense Department

The Department of Defense has announced that Food Lion will receive the 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.

Food Lion was selected as one of only 15 employers from across the nation to receive the 2010 Freedom Award.

Almost 2,500 Guard and Reserve members or their family members from across the country nominated employers for exceptional support, which included providing full salary, continuation of benefits, care packages and even family support to employees fulfilling their military obligation.

The Freedom Award will be presented to Food Lion during a formal ceremony Thursday, Sept. 23 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

The 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients include East Carolina University in Greenville and Dollar General Corporation in Goodlettsville, Tenn., among others

“With 2010 marking the 15th anniversary of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, it gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s recipients,” said James G. Rebholz, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) National Chairman. “Food Lion and this year’s other recipients are among the top U.S. employers that provide outstanding support for Guard and Reserve employees. Their superior and unselfish initiatives to support their Guard and Reserve employees, make them indispensable partners in the defense efforts of this country. We are truly grateful for their unwavering support.”

Food Lion, nominated by a store manager from New Bern, operates more than 1,300 supermarkets under the names of Food Lion, Bloom, Harveys or Reid’s.

Food Lion leadership and employees send care packages, provide home repair, attend children’s events, send flowers to spouses and provide lawn care for deployed coworkers’ families.

Food Lion, a past recipient of the Patriot Award, Above and Beyond Award and the ESGR Pro Patria Award, allows employees who are spouses of deployed service members to transfer to other stores to be closer to family during deployments.

Food Lion has donated gift cards, phone cards, non-perishable food and a variety of other items to service members throughout the past year.