SCARBOROUGH, Maine – Hannaford Supermarkets today announced that DAV (Disabled American Veterans) cited Hannaford as a DAV Patriot Employer earlier this year. The nationwide program recognizes businesses whose job opportunities for disabled veterans, hiring practices and community outreach demonstrate an unwavering commitment to veterans obtaining suitable employment to care for themselves and their families.
Over the past five years, Hannaford has sought to establish an infrastructure devoted specifically to veterans and military personnel, creating the Veterans and Military Business Resource Group (BRG). This group is responsible for bringing awareness to veteran employees by adding their military branch to their nametag, highlighting their own veterans in both internal and external story-telling and hiring campaigns, as well as educating and informing all associates through employee engagement events that honor veteran and military holidays.
“Hannaford continues to lead with care as one of our core values and there’s no better example than our support for the entire veteran community,” said Doug Richard, Chair of Hannaford’s Business Resource Group. “To be honored by the DAV as a Patriot Employer exemplifies this work on the national level and we are extremely proud to be a recipient.”
“To be recognized as a DAV Patriot Employer, a company must meet numerous criteria for hiring, retaining and supporting those who served,” said DAV National Commander Andy Marshall. “Hannaford Supermarkets has demonstrated their commitment to our nation’s heroes in many unique and meaningful ways. We appreciate their contributions and how they substantively recognize veterans and their families for the sacrifices they’ve made for our nation.”
Further information about the DAV Patriot Employer Program can be found at Patriotemployers.org.
In a separate state-level DAV award, Hannaford was also named Maine’s Patriot Employer of the Year. The DAV Department of Maine selected Hannaford based on the supermarket’s overall impact on Maine’s veteran community, coupled with its established infrastructure devoted specifically to local veterans and military families.
In addition to honoring and supporting their own veterans, Hannaford’s BRG was also key in initiating a special discount for veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day. Hannaford also proudly supports numerous veterans’ events in the community and this past year collected more than 3,500 holiday cards with customer and associate signatures to send to local veterans’ homes within the five states where it operates.
Hannaford remains committed to supporting veterans in the community. Any veteran or military member interested in career opportunities should visit the Hannaford website, where they can learn more about flexible employment opportunities at supermarket locations across the Northeast U.S.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets operates 184 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences and everyday low prices. Hannaford also is an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2020, Hannaford donated more than 25 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and prevented 65 million pounds of food waste from reaching landfills. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based in Scarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.
About DAV
DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: keeping our promise to America’s veterans. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at DAV.org.