JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 7, 2024) – Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is encouraging its customers to begin preparations now during National Hurricane Season as early predictions expect a record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

In anticipation of the active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, the SEG Gives Foundation donated $250,000, as well as vital bottled water and shelf-stable snacks to its long-standing partner, the American Red Cross. The donation to the disaster relief effort will ensure the organization is able to quickly provide aid to communities in need. Spanning more than 70 years, SEG has donated more than $12 million over the lifetime of the partnership.

Anthony Hucker, President and CEO for Southeastern Grocers, said, “As we brace for the potential impact of a very active hurricane season, we are encouraging our neighbors to be proactive by making necessary preparations now. With nearly 100 years serving the Southeast, we understand the uncertainty severe weather can bring, and we know being prepared early is the best defense. Through our enduring partnership with the Red Cross and our extensive experience in preparation and disaster response, we are the neighborhood grocer our communities can always count on before, during and after disaster strikes.”

Several preseason forecasts have indicated that researchers expect an extremely active hurricane season due to high sea-surface temperatures and the high likelihood of La Niña development. In record-breaking predictions, hurricane research scientists estimated 23 named storms with 11 anticipated to become hurricanes, including five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.^*

SEG urges neighbors to take action now to prepare their families for an overactive hurricane season. To prepare, customers are encouraged to review the Red Cross’ Survival Kit Supplies checklist for essential items needed following a disaster. Each household should be prepared with the appropriate amount of water, nonperishable food, batteries and first aid kits as well as any necessary baby supplies and pet food.

The grocer is committed to helping customers save money while stocking up their hurricane kit as well as maximizing discounts on everyday grocery essentials. Through its signature Price Hold program, SEG lowers and holds down prices on more than 1,000 commonly shopped

*Forecast for 2024 Hurricane Activity, Colorado State University, Tropical Weather & Climate Research

products each season to help families stretch their grocery budget. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can easily shop for emergency preparedness staples like shelf-stable foods, batteries, cleaning supplies and hygiene items to replenish their disaster supply kits and save nearly 20% on products identified by blue Price Hold signs. For more information on shopping at neighborhood stores for disaster preparedness needs, visit www.harveyssupermarkets.com/community/hurricane-preparedness and www.winndixie.com/community/hurricane-preparedness.

About Southeastern Grocers
Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is an omnichannel retailer serving customers in brick-and-mortar grocery stores and liquor stores, as well as online with convenient grocery delivery and curbside pickup throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well- respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and a strong commitment to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com.

About SEG Gives Foundation
SEG Gives Foundation is the charitable arm of Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. The SEG Gives Foundation aligns giving with causes that are priorities to the communities SEG serves, including the fight against hunger, support for military service members and their families, relief to those affected by extreme weather and natural disasters and championing belonging, inclusion and diversity by combating social injustice to bridge the gap of inequities faced by many individuals, families and communities. Southeastern Grocers strives to be ingrained in its communities and, through the SEG Gives Foundation, better the lives of its customers and neighbors.

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For SEG interviews or images contact:
Meredith Hurley
Senior Director, Communications and Community
(904) 370-6029
media@segrocers.com

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Florida Blue is addressing the affordability and pricing stability concerns of Northeast Florida’s small and mid-size businesses through a new health maintenance organization (HMO).

Truli for Health, an affiliate of Florida Blue, the state’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is designed to produce sustainably affordable coverage for employers as health insurance costs rise and smaller businesses in particular struggle to offer health benefits to employees.

“We want to give as many small businesses as possible an opportunity to cover their employees,” said Darnell Smith, North Florida market president, Florida Blue.

Truli helps businesses control costs through its value-based model. Almost all employers that have enrolled in the HMO within select Florida markets in the past two years have renewed coverage — with little or no increase in premiums.

“The 99% of groups renewing with us are not having to pass costs on to employees through higher copays. They’re able to renew and maintain what’s become a very affordable benefit offering and, in some cases, offer even richer benefits,” said Phil Lee, Florida Blue vice president, strategic provider partnerships and president, Truli for Health.

Truli launched on July 1, 2020, in Central and South Florida and has since expanded to the other parts of the state. Next year, it will be offered in 17 counties.

Truli has been available to Northeast Florida employers since Oct. 1 for health plans effective Jan. 1, 2023. Employers can offer it as a full replacement or package it with a Florida Blue plan.

The need for affordable health care coverage

Florida Blue created Truli in response to the common struggles of small businesses:

• Almost 40% of owners cite the cost of providing health care coverage to employees as the biggest challenge for their small businesses.
• U.S. employer health care costs are projected to rise by 6.5% in 2023 after increasing by 3.7% in 2022.
• Six of 10 small business owners say they limit insurance plan options for employees because of costs and they can’t compete with larger employers on health care benefits.
• More than one-third of workers in small businesses are uninsured and one-quarter of adults in employer plans are underinsured, meaning they cannot afford coverage.
• In Florida, many of the state’s 3 million small businesses, which account for 99.8% of employers and 40.5% of employees, have stopped offering health insurance to employees because the cost of coverage is out of reach.
• Two-thirds of employers want innovative cost containment solutions for help.

“Small businesses employ nearly half of the private-sector workforce and many are already struggling to make ends meet. So, when it comes to offering health care to employees, they simply can’t afford it. This potentially leaves many Floridians uninsured,” Smith said.

Aligning with anchor partners that deliver value-based care

One of the biggest keys to Truli’s affordability is how the HMO works with providers. Truli partners with just a few leading health systems and provider groups in each of its markets and pays them based on the quality and cost of care for the population they serve instead of the volume of services they deliver.

“Value-based care is critically important to transforming how care can be paid for and Truli aligns with health systems to deliver that,” Lee said.

In Northeast Florida, Truli has aligned with UF Health in Duval County and Flagler Health+ in St. Johns County. The anchor providers share Florida Blue’s vision for creating sustainably affordable health coverage options for local employers through value-based care.

In aligning with Truli, anchor providers, such as UF Health and Flagler Health+, assume responsibility for care costs and outcomes. “They share equally in the value we create together,” Smith said.

Providers also share Truli’s commitment to leveraging data to improve care. “Primary care physicians receive data and population health analytics that help them move the needle on the accessibility, affordability and quality of care,” Smith said.

Truli and its anchor providers also drive more comprehensive patient care and lower costs through a patient-centered approach in which primary care doctors coordinate care with specialists, diagnostics and others involved in the integrated delivery model.

Stabilizing health insurance costs

In reducing and stabilizing costs, Truli has enabled more small businesses to extend health insurance to employees. During a recent visit to Western Florida, three business leaders told Lee they could not offer health insurance before they signed up for Truli.

Similarly, Smith recalls a business owner in another part of the state exclaiming they were surprised by Truli’s pricing stability. “They were astonished to learn they didn’t have a rate increase,” he said. “After having years of rate increases, that moment with no rate increase was proof positive for them this can indeed work.”

Smith looks forward to helping Northeast Florida businesses address their affordability and pricing stability concerns through Truli as well. “We’re excited to bring it to St. Johns County and Duval County and to expand beyond that in the future.”

Learn more at truliforhealth.com/bettertogether, read the press release, or call 855-50-TRULI.

Florida Blue, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, has been providing health insurance to Florida residents for 75+ years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than 5 million health care members across the state.

Jim Molis is a freelance writer with The Business Journals Content Studio.

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Prospera was established in Tampa in 1991 and its mission is to help start, sustain, and grow Hispanic-owned businesses to achieve community prosperity. Today, the nonprofit, economic development organization serves all of Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. Last year, it began delivering services to our local community year-round.

“We’re very glad to offer bilingual consulting services and entrepreneurial education in Spanish to Hispanic entrepreneurs in the Jacksonville metro area 12 months of the year now,” said Katia Medina, Prospera Regional Vice President for Central and Northeast Florida. “Thanks to seed funding from JPMorgan Chase and Citi Foundation, we have been able to increase our local presence and be more accessible to the local Hispanic community. Furthermore, our partnership with the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is helping us get to know the community and increase awareness of our services among those who need it the most.”

Prospera’s individual consulting is a high value, no cost service. Business owners can request to meet with a Prospera business consultant to analyze their specific business needs, individually and confidentially. Together, they work to identify opportunities and resources that might help the business (in any industry and at any stage) to be more sustainable, successful, and even scalable. Furthermore, Prospera can invest additional resources to help the owner secure capital, and/or advance the planning, marketing, financial recordkeeping, and more aspects of the business. To request an individual consulting session, click here.

Prospera is also hosting in-person seminars in Spanish at the UNF Adam W. Herbert University Center. Some seminars are intended as orientations for entrepreneurs in early stages of business, to help them start or formalize their enterprises more efficiently and cost-effectively. Others focus on topics that are relevant and helpful for business owners with established businesses. The next business seminar in Jacksonville will focus on financial statements and making better financial decisions for your business. It is scheduled for Thursday, November 17 at 6 p.m. and you can register here for free.

“Prospera’s services complement what our chamber of commerce offers local entrepreneurs and Hispanic businesses and we’re looking forward to an ongoing partnership that will enhance our Jacksonville entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Monica Hernandez, President of FCHCC. “Prospera can help fellow chamber members to scale and strengthen their businesses and new startup businesses establish with their assistance can join the chamber to continue growing, networking and promoting their products.”

To learn more about Prospera, visit prosperausa.org, call 1-888-PROSPERA or (904) 999-1929 or email contact@prosperausa.org.

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