Hannaford’s ongoing commitment to child health and wellness
April 23, 2025 – As part of Ahold Delhaize’s Growing Together strategy, which focuses on creating healthier communities and a more sustainable food system, our local U.S. brand Hannaford is committed to ensuring that children have the support they need to grow, thrive and lead healthier lives. As part of this commitment, Hannaford has announced a $1.3 million investment in programs dedicated to supporting children’s health and wellness via its “Eat Well, Be Well – A Path to Better Health” initiative.
“It’s essential we provide children with the right tools to develop healthy habits at an early age,” said Mike Vail, Brand President of Hannaford. “We’re incredibly proud to support these meaningful programs, which will create positive, lasting impact on the lives of children in our communities. By investing in the next generation today, we’re establishing the foundation for thriving communities tomorrow.”
Tackling childhood obesity
In the U.S., a significant amount of children aged 2-19 are considered to have obesity – highlighting a growing need to address the potential long-term impacts of obesity on the physical health of children. The funding from Hannaford will not only support greater access to healthy food but also improve nutrition education resources for children – ultimately fostering a healthier future for the entire family.
Supporting local communities with purpose
The funding will go towards programs that help children eat healthier and stay active, with the goal of reducing risk of chronic diseases. The donations will be distributed to various initiatives across the states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts in the U.S., including:
· Full Plates Full Potential, which will use the grant to help schools adhere to new federal guidelines by feeding children fresh, made-from-scratch meals. This will ensure that children are consuming more nutritious foods and fewer heavily processed ingredients every day. "With this funding, we have the opportunity to help schools provide fresh, locally sourced meals to our students, and we're proud to work alongside Hannaford to end childhood food insecurity in Maine once and for all,” said Justin Strasburger, Executive Director of Full Plates Full Potential.
· Community Servings, which will use the grant to expand its Food is Medicine Nutrition Program, providing made-from-scratch and medically tailored meals to children and families. “With Hannaford's support over the next two years, we will expand our Food is Medicine Nutrition Program. Together, we’re advancing the health of children experiencing nutrition insecurity and critical illness,” said David B. Waters, CEO of Community Servings.
In addition to the $1.3 million investment, Hannaford will provide a total of $60,000 in gift cards to community partners. The partners can use the gift cards to purchase healthy snacks, such as Hannaford Snack Pals, for children, further supporting their shared mission to enhance nutrition and well-being in the community.
To learn more about Hannaford’s community health initiatives, visit: Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps