Schnuck Markets Inc. has new guidelines for organizations that want to ask its customers for contributions.
The updated policy, announced Wednesday, narrows the types of groups that can set up outside its stores to nonprofit organizations with missions that “clearly align with Schnuck’s corporate priorities of hunger, human services and health and wellness.”
Those groups need to have a “recognizable, reputable brand,” the Maryland Heights-based grocer said.
Schnucks last year banned all third-party solicitors after members of Local 688 of the Teamsters passed out leaflets at its area stores, urging customers to support a boycott. The union was calling attention to Schnuck’s decision to shift work to a new, nonunion distribution center in Kinloch.
The decision to ban all solicitors, however, quickly became a public relations headache as groups like the Salvation Army were turned away for the first time in a decade.
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For the holiday season, Schnucks ultimately made an exception for bell ringers and concessions were made to the Girl Scouts by allowing donations at the register for cookies purchased for U.S. troops stationed overseas. The union called off the nine-month boycott in March after members ratified a new contract.
Now the family-owned grocery chain has a three-pronged initiative to handle a variety of charitable causes and fundraisers.
Groups as large or larger than the 100-store chain can apply for a full partnership with the company with displays at all locations.
Smaller groups can apply for the new “Bags 4 My Cause” funding — once a month, each store will choose a group that targets hunger and another that targets community interests to benefit from sales of reusable bags.
If a cause doesn’t meet the criteria for either of those programs they can apply for the My Schnucks Card program, which allows shoppers to designate up to three organizations to benefit from their purchases.
Up to 3 percent of their purchase is given to their groups of choice for the program that annually raises about $1.7 million for schools and nonprofit organizations.
