Food Lion Stores Earn EPA Honors

Two Food Lion stores have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2011 Gold-Level GreenChill Store Certification Award, one of the agency's highest honors for refrigeration. The stores are located in Conyers, Ga., and Columbia, S.C.

“Today's announcement reinforces Food Lion's commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen by conserving energy and protecting the environment,” says Rick LaCroix, market vp, Food Lion's Southeastern markets. “We are honored to receive this award, and look forward to continuing to serve our communities.”

Food Lion became a founding partner with the EPA's GreenChill program in 2007. Since that time, the grocer joined other food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease impact on the ozone layer and climate change. Food Lion has pioneered various technologies that save energy and reduce harmful refrigerant leaks, from GreenChill to building two LEED-certified stores in both North Carolina and South Carolina.

The grocer operates more than half of the nation's Energy Star stores, with 1015 certified stores. In addition, the company has partnered with utilities to evaluate a variety of energy saving opportunities, such as solar power.

The Salisbury, N.C.-based company operates more than 1200 supermarkets under the names of Food Lion, Harveys and Reid's.