January 1, Washington State Grocery Chain Pushes Woke Ideologies via Customer Donations

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…
1863: Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Gen. Lee’s northward advance halted.

• Haggen, a Washington state grocery store chain, is asking customers to donate to a fundraiser promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) awareness, supporting both local charities and organizations that espouse “woke” ideologies.
• Albertson’s, which owns Haggen, declined to comment directly on potential backlash from customers due to promoting DEI ideologies but highlighted that their fundraising campaign benefits a variety of non-profit organizations.
• Similar initiatives from other brands, such as Bud Light’s partnership with a transgender activist, have resulted in significant backlash and boycotts from conservative customers.

Washington state grocery store chain Haggen, owned by Albertson’s, is nudging its customers to contribute to a fundraiser promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) awareness.

Self-checkout lanes display a screen requesting donations, with options ranging from $1 to $5 or more.

The fundraising initiative, slated to run from June 14 to August 8, supports a broad range of organizations, as outlined on Haggen Foundation’s website.

Donations aid charities like the American Cancer Society, and groups that assist individuals with mental disabilities like Chinook Enterprises and Faces Northwest.

However, the initiative also funds organizations promoting woke ideologies, such as the Northwest Justice Project.

This organization strives to address “structural and racial inequities” to enhance the long-term wellbeing of Washington State’s low-income communities.

It describes itself as a “dynamic statewide law firm” that combats injustice through legal advice, community partnerships, and education.

Previously, the Haggen Foundation supported the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project, which openly advocates for the dismantling of “systemic oppression,” and Empower Next Generations, which champions “social equity, cultural diversity, [and] inclusion.”

When asked about the possible backlash and customer loss from promoting controversial DEI ideologies, an Albertson’s spokesperson mentioned that the campaign would benefit nonprofits like Down Syndrome Center of Puget Sound, Special Olympics Washington, Disability Rights Washington, and the American Cancer Society.

Albertson’s operates multiple well-known grocery brands nationwide, such as Tom Thumb, Safeway, and Market Street.

In similar news, Bud Light has been grappling with conservative customers’ boycotts after teaming up with transgender activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Similarly, Target faced backlash and political pressure over featuring children’s transgender swimsuits prominently during Pride month.

Bud Light recently launched a new summer-themed ad in response to the backlash, but the advert quickly attracted negative comments on social media.

Their decision to make Mulvaney a spokesperson led to a significant drop in sales, resulting in beer manufacturer Anheuser-Busch losing billions in market value.

Bottom Line

The question for businesses today is how far to push these ideologies, risking alienation of a significant portion of their customer base.

As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.

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