The new (or let me say President Trump's) America has brought major changes that have greatly impacted a good number of frameworks, of which Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is among.
This change has greatly impacted companies, including most grocery stores, as they are looking to stay in step with the new evolving external landscape, as these companies say.
For sure, there are still a good number of grocery stores that still support DEI, and this guide compiles a convenient list of these stores so you can continue benefiting from the framework.
What is DEI in the Grocery Sector?
While I believe that every one of you reading this has a good understanding of DEI, there's a big probability that a good number of you don't really know what this program is all about.
Now, you'll be thinking of going through bigger directories like Wikipedia for a better understanding—that's just fine.
But let me make this easy for you.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is simply a program that aims to promote the diverse population (including the handicapped, underrepresented, and discriminated), equally, and include them in most things that would only be available for the population not targeted by the program.
With this program, your race, gender, or disability doesn't matter—you'll typically get the same rights as anyone not in the same situation as you are.
Coming to the grocery sector, it's no new thing that grocery stores employ even the disabled, and thanks to this framework, underrepresented employees get equal training and advancement opportunities, making sure that products are accessible and affordable for all customers
What Grocery Stores Support DEI?
DEI has been on trend since its implementation back in the 1980s until President Trump made the massive change concerning the program that hasn't only affected businesses as a whole to part ways with the framework, but also led grocery retails that will definitely affect your everyday purchase, especially if you are being supported by DEI.
So there's a chance that the grocery store you visited before the new US president's mandate that supported DEI, no longer supports it since the beginning of 2025.
But the good thing is that not all stores have parted ways with DEI, and some stores you frequently visit still offer support for it throughout the US, and these grocers include.
1. Costco
Costco is without a doubt one of the grocery wholesalers that have increased their commitment to DEI, despite being threatened by some of the company's investors if they didn't discontinue their support for the framework.
Perhaps, there's a reason behind this firm support, and despite what most businesses say about DEI, Costco's opinion has been a completely different one.
In fact, Costco CEO, Ron Vachris, together with a few other business partners affiliated with Washington Employers for Racial Equity (WERE) dedicated to support "racial equity for Black Washingtonians," have shown just how deeply committed the grocery wholesaler is to diversity, equity and inclusion, as it has a positibe impact on their business strategies.
So even if you are thinking of the next grocery store to discontinue support for DEI, Costco shouldn't definitely be among your options.
2. Giant Food
If you've thought of a grocery retailer that still maintains its commitment to supporting DEI, then Giant Food should definitely be on your list, as its aim is to prioritize supplier diversity.
To think of deeper facts, Giant Food is the first traditional grocer that introduced shelf label tags to highlight diverse-owned products, which you see at your local Giant Food.
For sure, you'll still find these diverse-owned products, which only shows how much they are still committed to DEI, despite the President's opinion on this diversity inclusion.
3. Kroger
If you think you've heard enough about grocers committed to supporting DEI despite the increasing trend of discontinuation of the framework, then you haven't heard about Kroger's opinion on this.
According to Kroger, they are committed to providing equal access to opportunities for everyone, and this includes jobs, skill-building, and engagement with their services.
Their move to support DEI has been recognized across the whole industry and has gone so far as to be named as the Best Workplace for Diverse Professionals by Mogul back in 2024, which only shows how welcoming they are for all associates from all walks of life in search of a comfortable workplace.
4. Trader Joe's
Among many of the retailers that made a great move towards support for DEI, there's no doubt Trader Joe's marked their spot.
For sure, a good number of consumers have already assumed that Trader Joe's doesn't support DEI anymore, especially following the removal of any information regarding DEI from their parent company, Aldi's website.
Well, it's a good time you know that despite being a subsidiary of Aldi, Trader Joe's has different objectives, especially when it comes to DEI, and they've proven their commitment over the years.
Let me take a good example with PayPal that owns Venmo, but looks completely different from Venmo when it comes to some features, different from their common goal (that's being a payment service), and if you have used these two payment services before, you should know what I'm talking about.
And besides, Aldi hasn't publicly mentioned their actual stand when it comes to DEI, so it's still a possibility that they support the framework, though not publicly.
5. Food Lion
Food Lion is another grocery store committed to offering DEI support for both their associates and customers.
Their fight against racism is really impressive.
In fact, they have committed $5 million, which comes from their collaboration with other companies of Ahold Delhaize USA, their parent company, to fight against racial inequality and promote DEI.
This commitment comes with support for education, advocacy, and business development within the Black and African American communities they operate in, which is something you wouldn't see with most grocers.
6. Hannaford
Hannaford is one of the grocery stores that still support the "woke" initiative and they do this so well that they've earned awards such as the Disabled American Veterans Award and Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion, just for supporting DEI.
One thing I love about them is that they honor days and periods of the year, such as Hispanic Heritage Month, Pride Month, Women's History Month, and Black History Month, that typically don't mean much for larger grocers, especially since they are limiting "woke" support.
So, whether you're a disabled individual, a veteran, or someone who's suffered racism before when seeking employment, you can give Hannaford a try, as they still support DEI.
7. Ingles Market
Ingles Market is another grocery store that supports DEI wherever they are located.
Talking of their locations supporting this framework, you should be able to get DEI support from them throughout their Corporate Office, Distribution Center, and Retail Stores within the country, as mentioned on their official website.
They are very strong fighters against racism as they judge people based on their backgrounds, races, and abilities, just as all other options on this list, and this is not only because it's the right course, but because it somewhat benefits them as well.
Other Grocery Stores Supporting DEI (Not Openly)
The list of grocery stores I shared earlier typically outlines the grocers that have publicly mentioned their support for DEI, but grocers in general don't just end there, since those were just the grocers you visit at least once in a while.
However, there are still a few grocery stores that support DEI even though they won't always mention it publicly, and these stores include:
- Albertsons.
- Aldi.
- Grocery Outlet.
- Publix.
- Safeway.
- Schnucks.
- Whole Foods Market.
Not all of these grocers will support DEI at all their locations, but a good number of them should. If you frequently shop at any of these grocery stores, I recommend you call ahead of time for your convenience.
List of Grocery Stores That Don't Support DEI
If I'm to list grocery stores that don't support DEI, I won't be accurate at listing all of them since the numbers are increasing day by day, following the alignment of businesses and grocers with President Trump's mandate.
However, among these grocers, I believe that the bigger grocers that no longer support DEI that you'll probably recognize are Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
In the best of cases, it will always be easier to know grocers that no longer work with the framework by simply knowing the options that support DEI.
Why Won't Grocery Stores Support DEI?
As I mentioned earlier, the list of grocery stores that don't support DEI is even longer than those they support the framework.
Why that?
Well, things really changed after President Trump was elected, as he aims to bring great advancement in the country's economy, as his way to achieve this is by bringing down low-value frameworks that slow down the economy of country.
So, unless the President decides to revoke his opinion on DEI, there's a big chance that the framework will fade away.
Final Thoughts
DEI is one of the frameworks that has given every single being a value out there and knowing it is being supported where we not only shop, but somewhere it is considered as an employment opportunity can be a great start to something great.
However, with grocers constantly revoking their support for the framework, it is no longer easy to be covered by the program, especially if you consider big names like Target or Walmart.
This guide compiles the list of grocery stores that support DEI, giving you the possibility to be considered as someone where you want to shop or get employment. While this list isn't a definitive one, I, however, recommend that you frequently check this page for updates on these stores.