10 Years and Growing
Welcome to 2021! I hope your New Year is off to a good start and that this year will be a healthy and prosperous one.
I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that you have less than one month to nominate someone for GPN’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2021.
This year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of our 40 Under 40 program. The Class of 2021 will join our 360 previous honorees who are trailblazers in their personal and professional lives and are charting a course for our industry’s future.
We are looking for 40 young men and women who demonstrate superior leadership, creativity, compassion and innovative thinking.
Anyone in the horticulture industry under the age of 40 (as of Jan. 31, 2021) can be nominated for the Class of 2021. Individuals previously nominated, but who did not make the final 40, can be nominated again this year.
The Class of 2021 will be recognized in the May issue of GPN as well as at Cultivate’21 this summer in Columbus, Ohio*.
To nominate someone, please go to https://gpnmag.com/40-under-40-nomination.
The deadline to submit your nominations is Jan. 22, 2021.
If you have any questions about the nomination process, just drop me a line at thodson@greatmaericanpublish.com.
*Presentation ceremony date and location subject to change.
Walmart Helps Fight Hunger Over the Holidays
During the holiday season, many food banks and pantries have difficulties keeping up with demand. To help organizations meet this increased demand, the Walmart Foundation recently committed $12 million over two years to Feeding America. Walmart stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers also committed funds and made product donations to hunger-relief organizations. The Walmart Foundation grant will support critical work that aims to reduce barriers and increase access to food assistance for people facing hunger. The grant will also provide significant capacity investments for several member food banks to increase the amount of food they are able to source and distribute to people in need in their communities.
Lowe’s Introduces Total Home Strategy
In December, Lowe’s announced it would be introducing the Total Home strategy to increase its sales in 2021. “At Lowe’s we will be committed to offering everything a homeowner needs to provide a ‘total home solution’ across every area in the home. This includes products and services for everything needed to repair and improve the home … across all décor categories,” said Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s president and CEO. The Total Home strategy is designed to enhance customer engagement and grow market share by expanding its online business, modernizing installation services, improving localization efforts, elevating product assortment and intensifying the company’s focus on the Pro customer.
Tractor Supply Continues to Make Progress on Environmental Goals
The Tractor Supply Company recently released an update on its progress to advancing its environmental, social and governance initiatives. Among the achievements, the company announced it had exceeded its carbon emission reduction goal five years ahead of schedule. TSC is also committed to increasing its level of renewable energy purchased for electric consumption and has set a goal to substitute existing electric consumption with verifiable, renewable electric power. Tractor Supply is also partnering with various utility companies in the United States to purchase solar energy for select store locations and to participate in community solar programs. Selected stores on the West Coast are currently receiving 100% solar energy.