Red Thread PR, in partnership with its client, Hannaford Supermarkets, has been honored with a 2025 PR News Platinum Award in the CSR, ESG, or DEI Report category for Hannaford’s 2024 Community Impact Report. The annual report exemplifies Hannaford’s century-long commitment to uplifting communities and creating lasting, positive change across its five-state footprint.
The PRNews Platinum Awards celebrate the industry’s most innovative and impactful communications programs. Hannaford’s recognition underscores its deep-rooted purpose of cultivating thriving communities and demonstrates how uncommon care is lived out daily through measurable social and environmental impact.
“Hannaford has always been more than a grocery store – we’re a partner in the communities we serve and a catalyst for positive change,” said Ericka Dodge Katz, Director of External Communications and Community Impact, Hannaford Supermarkets. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication and heart of our associates and partners, who bring our mission of uncommon care to life every single day. From supporting local farmers to helping families put food on the table, their efforts ripple across every corner of our footprint. We’re proud not only to share the stories behind our work but also to celebrate the real, measurable difference we’re making together in the lives of our neighbors.”
The 2024 Community Impact Report reimagined Hannaford’s annual reporting as an interconnected narrative, uniting people, community, and planet under one theme: How We Care. Developed in close collaboration with Red Thread PR, the report was designed to be both transparent and human-centered through measurable data with heartfelt storytelling. It highlights more than $62 million in community investment, 27.6 million pounds of food donated to regional food banks, and partnerships with more than 800 local companies and farmers offering 6,000 quality local products.
“Hannaford has always led with care as a core part of who they are,” said Laura Emanuel, Managing Director of Red Thread PR. “We built a report that reflects that purpose: thoughtful, close-to-home impact that brings Hannaford’s promise of ‘uncommon care’ to life through data, design, and storytelling. This recognition from PRNews affirms that real impact begins with authenticity.”
Hannaford’s win reinforces its position as a leader in responsible retailing and purpose-driven communication, setting a new benchmark for how brands can demonstrate accountability, inspire involvement, and cultivate community pride.
The team that worked on the report included Zach Blanchard, Caitlin Cortelyou, and Ericka Dodge of Hannaford, Madison Frankel of Red Thread PR, Rebekah Berry, and Jen Betit of Born and Raised, a sister agency under Brownstein Group’s independent agency network.