2 Food Lion Stores Earn Gold-level GreenChill Certification

Two Food Lion stores have garnered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 Gold Level GreenChill Store Certification Award for energy-efficient refrigeration. The locations are in Conyers, Ga., and Columbia, S.C.

The honor “reinforces Food Lion’s commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen by conserving energy and protecting the environment,” noted Rick LaCroix, market VP for the Salisbury, N.C.-based Delhaize Group-owned chain’s southeastern markets.

Food Lion is a founding partner of the GreenChill program, which began in 2007. The grocer has also previously received the initiative’s Distinguished Partner Award and Superior Environmental Achievement Award.

“Food Lion's Conyers, Ga., and Columbia, S.C., stores are proof positive of Food Lion’s belief that protecting the environment is not a ‘once and done’ thing,” said Keilly Witman, manager of EPA’s GreenChill Partnership. “Food Lion works very hard to protect the environment, year after year. Customers should be proud to know that Food Lion shares their environmental values.”

Food Lion’s actions to save energy and reduce harmful refrigerant leaks also include building two Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified stores in both North Carolina and South Carolina.

“Our company is committed to going beyond simply reducing refrigerants,” explained Susan Sollenberger, director of energy, maintenance and equipment purchasing at Delhaize America South. “In addition to reducing emissions through the EPA’s GreenChill partnership, we continue to look for new environmentally friendly technologies and increase the amount of stores that are also ENERGY STAR certified.”

Food Lion operates more than half of the nation’s ENERGY STAR stores, with 1,015 certified locations. In addition, the company has teamed with utilities companies to evaluate a variety of energy-saving opportunities, including solar power.

The Food Lion family of supermarkets operates more than 1,200 supermarkets, either directly or through affiliated entities, under the Food Lion, Harveys and Reid’s banners.