Peapod Digital Labs President Signs Public Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

New pledge supports creating a more diverse and inclusive work environment

CHICAGO, IL – February 8, 2021 – Peapod Digital Labs, the digital and e-commerce engine of the brands of Ahold Delhaize USA, today announced JJ Fleeman, President, Peapod Digital Labs, has joined the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. In signing this commitment, Fleeman joins the growing coalition of over 1,500 CEOs pledging to cultivate workplace environments where diverse experiences and perspectives are welcomed and where employees feel comfortable and empowered to discuss diversity and inclusion.

Since its stand up in 2019, Peapod Digital Labs has been committed to building and maintaining a workplace that allows employees to be their authentic selves at work. From inclusive employee benefits, to non-discrimination policies, the company embraces inclusion and diversity as a crucial part of its workplace culture.

“It's important to me that we demonstrate our commitment to diversity through our actions,” said Fleeman. “In fact, this past year emphasized the need to have honest dialogue about challenges that exist in the workplace and to find new ways to act and do more. We recognize there is work to do, but this is one step we can take towards creating a work environment where everyone feels welcomed and enabled to do their best work. We want to openly address challenges, share experiences, and collaborate to achieve lasting and meaningful change in the lives of our employees.”

As a signatory of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion,™ Peapod Digital Labs is dedicated to working collaboratively to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and in turn, improve corporate performance, driver growth, and enhance employee engagement. To promote conversation, engagement and collaboration among organizations, Peapod Digital Labs is joining fellow signatories in committing to four actions:

1. Continue to cultivate workplaces that support open dialogue on complex, and sometimes difficult conversations about diversity and inclusion,
2. We will implement and expand unconscious bias education,
3. We will share best known – and unsuccessful – actions, and
4. We will create and share strategic inclusion and diversity plans with our board of directors.

Research shows companies that embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion have greater creativity, innovation, employee productivity, and can better engage and support their employees, customers, and stakeholders. Equality in the workplace encourages employees from all backgrounds to feel confident in their ability and achieve their best.

To learn more about the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™, visit CEOAction.com

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About Peapod Digital Labs

Peapod Digital Labs is the digital and e-commerce engine of leading grocery retail group Ahold Delhaize USA. As the innovation lab for the U.S. brands, Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop, Peapod Digital Labs promotes digital and e-commerce innovation, technology and experience to meet the changing needs of customers of each Ahold Delhaize USA local brand, regardless of when, where and how consumers choose to shop. Learn more at www.peapoddigitallabs.com.

About CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Bringing together more than 1,500 CEOs of America’s leading organizations, the commitment outlines actions that participating companies pledge to take to cultivate a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, employees feel comfortable and encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion, and where best known—and unsuccessful—actions can be shared across organizations. Learn more at CEOAction.com and connect with us on Twitter: @CEOAction.