Food Lion Receives 2010 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Food Lion Only Grocer to Receive Top Honor for Guard & Reserve Support

The Department of Defense has awarded Food Lion with its 2010 Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for outstanding support of their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.

Food Lion was the only grocery store chain nationwide to receive this honor out of the 15 employers selected. Almost 2,500 Guard and Reserve members, or their family members, from across the country nominated employers. Steve Boos, a store manager from New Bern, N.C., nominated Food Lion. The government selected the Salisbury-based company because of its numerous ways of supporting its employees and their families who serve in the Guard and Reserve.

"Food Lion is proud to support its military associates who serve as members of the Guard and Reserve to protect the freedom we enjoy everyday," said Eric Watson, Delhaize America's Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. "We recognize our employees for going beyond the call of duty serving both our country and company."

Food Lion supports military employees through providing numerous benefits policies, adopting colleague families who have been called into active duty, donating food and volunteering during community military events, and establishing a Veteran's and Military Business Resource Group.

The Freedom Award will be presented to Food Lion during a formal ceremony Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Food Lion President Cathy Green will accept the award on behalf of the company.

About Food Lion Family

The Food Lion family, based in Salisbury, N.C., operates more than 1,300 supermarkets, either directly or through affiliated entities, under the names of Food Lion, Bloom, Harveys or Reid's. These stores meet local customer needs and preferences for the freshest and best quality products. The Food Lion family employs approximately 74,000 associates in 11 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com.

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SOURCE: Food Lion Inc.

CONTACT: Christy Phillips-Brown, +1-704-633-8250, ext. 2221,
cphillips-brown@foodlion.com

Web Site: http://www.foodlion.com/