Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is celebrating Supermarket Employee Day by recognizing those who form the backbone of the company – the grocer’s most valued people, its associates.

As a people-first organization, SEG prioritizes its people by investing in their development and helping associates reach their goals over the course of their careers. In fact, many store managers and executives at SEG started as cashiers and baggers before working their way up the grocery ladder, including Store Manager Dayme Rey and District Directors Gueorgui Lago and Zach Wesson who were recently named SEG’s Store Manager of the Year and District Directors of the Year, respectively, for their exceptional leadership.

Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “People are at the center of every answer to every question we face. That’s why, at SEG, we put people at the heart of every decision we make. Without question, our associates’ commitment has been the engine for every gain, every success and every Winn we’ve earned. I’m incredibly proud to be a part of this exceptional team comprised of individuals from varying backgrounds, cultures and experiences, and to have the responsibility to lead this remarkable company and first-class team is one of my greatest honors.”

Rey came to SEG as a Winn-Dixie cashier after emigrating from Havana, Cuba. She quickly turned her job into a career by rising through the ranks and after 10 years of exceptional service to her fellow associates, customers and community, she was promoted to store manager of the Miami Lakes Winn-Dixie. Rey personifies SEG’s people-first culture and is fiercely committed to developing her team as well as other store teams in her district. In addition to being named SEG’s Store Manager of the Year, Rey is also a nominee in FMI’s Store Manager of the Year awards.

Lago is a well-respected leader within Winn-Dixie’s South Florida region and operates one of the grocer’s most challenging yet top performing districts. Throughout his 25-year career at SEG, Lago has proven he’s a natural leader passionate about his personal development and growth as well as that of his team. He takes vested interest in supporting and mentoring his associates throughout their own careers and schedules one-on-one time with each of his team members to review their goals and offer feedback on how to achieve them.

Wesson began his grocery career as a bagger when he was in high school which quickly transformed when he was promoted to manager-level positions. Passionate about driving sales, Wesson can be counted on to impact both his team and the region. Wesson is deeply connected with his entire team and has created a robust environment for his associates to thrive while being their true authentic selves, a value of SEG’s unmatched culture.

The best advice Rey, Lago and Wesson offer their fellow and aspiring teammates is to keep an open mind, do their best and remember tomorrow comes from what one gave today.

SEG believes its team should reflect the diverse communities it serves and is always looking to add to its award-winning workplace of more than 40,000 associates. SEG is seeking motivated, energetic applicants for full- and part-time positions, as well as summer interns, with all levels of experience and backgrounds to develop and empower based on individual goals while encouraging them to be their best authentic selves.

SEG provides its associates with a large assortment of benefits, including 401(k) matching, associate discounts, quarterly bonuses and great health benefits, including medical, dental and vision. SEG also recognizes the importance of education and fosters advancement opportunities for associates by offering training programs, scholarships and GED completion programs. In addition, SEG also promotes work-life balance with paid time off, paid holidays and paid parental leave, as well as a casual dress code, a flexible work schedule and a culture of belonging and social responsibility.

The grocer’s focus on career pathing extends to its interns as well with paid 12-week projects that directly contribute to SEG’s success and growth across accounting and finance, digital marketing, communications, HR, IT, marketing, e-commerce and merchandising. All interns are provided with personal and professional development opportunities, leadership networking, volunteer work, team-building activities, life-long friendships and, at the close of the program, continued employment opportunities.

SEG’s wholehearted commitment to its people and communities was recognized last year by grocery industry trade publications Progressive Grocer and Store Brands for its workforce development and employee support. Store Brands named SEG its Retailer of the Year and presented the grocer with an Impact Award for community service and local impact. SEG was also named Outcomes™ Top Medium Pharmacy Chain of 2022 for the organization’s pharmacy achievements in Medication Therapy Management (MTM) and overall effectiveness in delivering comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs) and resolving drug therapy problems through targeted interventions. Additionally, SEG garnered recognition from top outlets including: Fortune’s 2022 Best Workplaces in Retail; Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Loved Workplaces; Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies, ranking third among 32 businesses in the retail category and one of only 400 U.S. companies recognized for customer and employee trust; The Silicon Review^® as one of the 30 Fabulous Companies of the Year; and certification as a Great Place to Work^® for three consecutive years.

Those interested in joining the SEG family to jumpstart or expand their grocery careers are encouraged to visit segrocers.com/careers. For students seeking information on summer internship opportunities to grow with one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the Southeast, visit segrocers.com/careers/internships.