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KROGER: Grocer on a mission

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Teams competed in championship pork categories of ribs, shoulder and whole hog, as well as the ancillary competitions of hot wings, sauce and “anything but pork.” From sun up to well after sun down, Kroger’s 10-person team would be expected to literally deliver top-notch products and service to anyone who needed a helping hand.

Published

5 years ago

June 1, 2019

Oakland Post

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

The sun dominated a nearly cloudless morning sky and the temperature was steadily rising as a mild breeze comforted a team of 10 Kroger employees mobilized in signature blue shirts and on a mission – successfully manage opening day of the 42nd Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.

All hands were on deck at historic Tom Lee Park in preparation for an influx of attendees from across the globe. Several brightly colored 18-wheeler trailers jam-packed with supplies and adorned with Kroger logos and branded messaging lined Riverside Dr.
Three large white tents strategically placed directly across the small breezeway were set up to support sales and protect employees from the sun’s demanding rays. The team of Kroger employees assigned to BBQ duty worked harmoniously to fill orders.

“Who doesn’t love the Memphis in May Barbeque festival?” one man asked as he whipped out a list of supplies his team needed for the competition.

“I’m glad that they’re here,” he said of Kroger. “Makes my job that much easier.”

However, Kroger’s job for the festival, while enjoyable, was not an easy one. Festival attendance was expected to reach 75,000 this year. Over 250 teams from 26 states and six countries were competing for the title of Grand Champion and monetary prizes that topped $115,000.

Teams competed in championship pork categories of ribs, shoulder and whole hog, as well as the ancillary competitions of hot wings, sauce and “anything but pork.” From sun up to well after sun down, Kroger’s 10-person team would be expected to literally deliver top-notch products and service to anyone who needed a helping hand.

“My team can definitely handle it. Kroger has 130 years of grocer experience under our belt, and we love what we do,” said Teresa Dickerson, corporate affairs manager for Kroger Delta Division, as she shifted gears in one of the Kroger buggy carts used to transport orders.

“Kroger’s commitment to Memphis is the reason why we returned again this year as a sponsor. It has always been our goal to feed the human spirit, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here today, not just literally but figuratively. We’ve got two missions ahead of us – service and awareness.”

Kroger Delta Division had been named the official grocer of the Memphis in May festivals for 2019 during an announcement that came with much fanfare just two weeks earlier. With Kroger’s Highland location as the backdrop, the University of Memphis marching band, Mayor Jim Strickland and Meghan Strange of NBC’s “The Voice” sang “Happy Birthday” to Memphis in front of a crowd of patrons and community leaders celebrating the city’s bicentennial.

Fulfilling their role as the official grocer, the Kroger team arrived at the Memphis in May site the Monday before the festival began and set up operations, creating a mini-Kroger experience in a large tent. Industrial vans offered on-site purchases to those who walked up and online and call-in orders to those who opted to forgo the trek across 30 acres of sprawling park space with bags of food.

Many teams either purchased their ribs or seasonings from Kroger’s.

“Before the festival, our team sat down and thought of everything attendees might need, compiled a list, vetted our inventory and got to work. What we didn’t bring on location, we have on standby ready to be delivered to us at a moment’s notice,” said Dickerson.
“Plus, this event gives us an opportunity to share our Zero Hunger Zero Waste plan with more people, and hopefully, they will go out and share it with others. There is nothing better than face-to-face interaction and conversation when you’re trying to explain a vision.”

Zero Hunger Zero Waste is Kroger’s social impact plan and commitment to end hunger in its communities and eliminate waste across the company by 2025. Dickerson explained that 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. is thrown away, while 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger.

“Kroger’s participation solidified us a food authority,” she said, pointing toward the yellow sign on one of the Kroger’s truck that touted the initiative’s name. “We’re going to make a significant difference for future generations through Zero Hunger Zero Waste, because we can and we should.”

(Cook Smoke was chosen as the 2019 Grand Champion. To find out more about the winners, visit https://www.memphisinmay.org. To find out more about Zero Hunger Zero Waste and ways to participate, visit www.thekrogerco.com.)

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#LET IT BE KNOWN — LIVE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2024

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Democrats Call for Fierce Defense of Democracy and Working-Class Values

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Democrats from all political backgrounds came together to honor President Biden’s legacy, which includes unwavering efforts to reduce costs for middle-class Americans, repair a deteriorating infrastructure, and defend democracy from unprecedented threats.

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2024

Oakland Post

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

In an electrifying moment at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that likely set the tone for the party’s campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on the opening night, seizing the stage to the triumphant anthem of Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” The crowd erupted with fire in her voice as Harris declared, “I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden. Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you.” The first night of the DNC was more than a celebration; it was a battle cry. Democrats from all political backgrounds came together to honor President Biden’s legacy, which includes unwavering efforts to reduce costs for middle-class Americans, repair a deteriorating infrastructure, and defend democracy from unprecedented threats. The message was clear: Biden’s work is not done, and Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz are ready to continue that fight.

Speakers who are most familiar with Biden, such as Senators Raphael Warnock and Chris Coons, as well as Dr. Jill Biden and Ashley Biden, shared stories that painted a picture of a president who is unwaveringly dedicated to the American people. “In public and in private, President Biden never backed down from his vision for an America where everyone has a fair shot,” Warnock emphasized. Dr. Biden and Ashley Biden gave heartfelt tributes to the man who led the nation and his family with steadfast devotion. The emotional high point of the evening came when Biden, introduced by his daughter Ashley, took the stage to a thunderous ovation as “Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher” filled the arena. The crowd’s response was deafening, with chants of “We love Joe” and “Thank You, Joe” reverberating throughout the hall, a powerful testament to Biden’s connection with the American people.

In a speech that was as much a rallying cry as it was a reflection on his presidency, Biden delivered a stark reminder of what’s at stake. “Let me ask you… Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” Biden’s words resonated as he recalled the perilous moment of his inauguration, just weeks after supporters of the twice-impeached former president stormed the U.S. Capitol. “You cannot say I love my country only when you win,” Biden asserted. “The winter of peril and possibility has passed, and with a grateful heart, I stand before you to report that democracy has prevailed. But now, democracy must be preserved.” Biden highlighted the progress made under his administration, pointing to economic recovery, healthcare expansion, and the battle against corporate greed. He singled out Harris’s critical role in these achievements. “We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the world… More Americans have health insurance than at any time in American history. And we finally beat big pharma. Guess who cast the tie-breaking vote? Vice President and soon-to-be President Kamala Harris. Now it’s the law of the land—$35 a month for insulin.”

The evening was charged with passionate speeches that struck the heart of the nation’s issues. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a searing indictment of Donald Trump, contrasting Harris’s steadfast dedication to American values with Trump’s chaotic legacy. “Kamala won’t disrespect our military and our veterans,” Clinton declared to thunderous applause. “She will defend democracy and our Constitution and will protect America from enemies foreign and domestic. Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made history as the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a fiery endorsement of Harris, framing her as the champion of the middle-class needs. “In Kamala Harris, we have a chance to elect a president who is for the middle class because she is from the middle class,” Ocasio-Cortez proclaimed. “She understands the urgency of rent checks, groceries, and prescriptions. She is as committed to our reproductive and civil rights as she is to taking on corporate greed. She is working tirelessly to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and bring hostages home.”

Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back in her critique of Trump, accusing him of being a self-serving demagogue. “Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” she said. “I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life.” The night was filled with moments that galvanized the crowd. Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr, invoking the words of Steph Curry, declared, “After the results are tallied that night, we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night, night.’“UAW President Shawn Fain tore off his jacket to reveal a shirt emblazoned with the words “TRUMP IS A SCAB,” igniting the crowd into a fervent chant of “Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab!”

In one of the night’s most pointed moments, Rep. Jasmine Crockett drew a stark contrast between Harris and Trump: “She became a career prosecutor while he became a career criminal. Who would you hire? Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Kamala Harris has a resume, and Donald Trump has a rap sheet with 34 felonies, 2 impeachments, and 1 porn star to prove it.” The NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Melanie Campbell, the President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, led a standing ovation for civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson during the celebration.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also delivered a powerful message that resonated deeply with the audience. “I know that my daughter will see not only a reflection of herself in the White House, but she will experience the deepest part of American values… Kamala Harris—she’s got us.” Harris’s words from earlier in the night echoed as the event ended: “We are at a pivotal moment. The choices we make now will determine the future of our nation. Together, we will fight for the soul of America and build a future where everyone has a fair shot. Our best days are still ahead, and we are ready to lead.”