People magazine has released its list of 100 Companies That Care in 2025, highlighting organizations that go above and beyond in fostering supportive workplaces, giving back to communities and driving meaningful social impact. Six of the honorees are companies with strong ties to produce and grocery — The Wonderful Company, Publix, Wegmans, Sheetz, Walmart and Target — underscoring the role food industry leaders play in caring for people and the planet.
In collaboration with Great Place to Work, People surveyed companies across the U.S. to find the businesses that best demonstrate outstanding respect, care and concern for their employees, communities and the environment. The ninth annual list is based on 1.3 million responses and data from companies representing over 8.4 million employees, according to a news release.
The Wonderful Company Ranks No. 1
The Wonderful Company has taken the coveted top spot on the list, rising from No. 3 last year. The $6 billion enterprise with 10,000 employees worldwide and a portfolio of well-known healthy brands, earned the recognition for its commitment to employees, communities and the environment.
This commitment is rooted in the vision of owners and founders Lynda and Stewart Resnick, whose philanthropic giving, along with their foundations and company, accounts for more than $2.5 billion and focuses extensively on the communities where Wonderful employees and their families live and work, the company said in a news release.
In bestowing the top honor, People highlighted The Wonderful Company’s signature Career Pathways program, which helps students to obtain an associate’s degree upon graduating from one of seven partner high schools in California’s Central Valley. Students also receive critical work-based learning experiences by participating in job shadows, career workshops and paid internships at Wonderful. Since 2018, more than 1,600 students have graduated from the program with an associate’s degree, the company says.
“In the Central Valley of California, our people do the hard work of feeding our nation. Their children deserve every opportunity,” the Resnicks said in a statement. “Wonderful Career Pathways is one of the many ways we are committed to ending the cycle of poverty by taking a holistic view and focusing on the social determinants of a healthy society. This program empowers students to enter college with 60 credits and a two-year head start on classes — or graduate high school and step right into higher-paying jobs in health care, education and agriculture. And, Wonderful is with them every step of the way.”
Over the past decade, The Wonderful Company and the Resnicks, along with their foundations, have committed over $1 billion in the Central Valley, home to more than 3,000 of its employees. Wonderful says it offers free health care services to its full-time workforce in the Central Valley, including preventive care, physical therapy, prescriptions and more. Every meal served at its onsite cafeteria is fresh, nutritious and cooked from scratch. T
hey also support 5,000 students across 70 schools, including two public charter schools the Resnicks founded, and over 1,000 Wonderful Scholars, many of whom are employees’ children, with tutoring, academic coaching, emotional support, up to $40,000 each in college scholarships and more.
“Witnessing the innovative spirit with which these companies invest in their employees, communities and the world is truly invigorating,” says Charlotte Triggs, general manager and editor-in-chief for People. “Their commitment reflects our mission, to feature what happens when ordinary people do extraordinary work.”
Publix Continues Streak
Publix has been named to People’s 100 Companies that Care list for a sixth straight year.
“At Publix, we are dedicated to the dignity, value and employment security of our associates and believe it’s our responsibility to give back to the communities we serve,” says Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous. “We are honored to be recognized as a company that cares about our people and communities.”
Publix says it is committed to being a great place to work and offers a comprehensive benefits package to its associates. This spring, the company enhanced its mental health benefit that, among other resources, provides free counseling sessions to associates as well as their household members and dependents under the age of 26.
Publix also says it is the largest employee-owned company in the U.S., offering associates the opportunity to become company owners through its employee stock ownership plan, 401(k) plan and employee stock purchase plan.
The company says it takes its role as a responsible member of its communities seriously. During Hurricane Helene in September 2024, Publix stores in the hardest-hit areas were among the first to reopen after the storm to provide residents with a gathering place to rest, charge their cellphones and use Wi-Fi to contact family and friends.
Meals, drinks, food and ice were donated to those affected and first responders in the immediate aftermath and again after Hurricane Milton three weeks later. The company also provided other necessities like personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies and pet food.
Publix says it is focused on doing good for the environment throughout its operations. Efforts include restoring water in the Florida Everglades, tree plantings to support reforestation efforts in the Southeast, coral reef restoration in two South Florida national parks, improving fuel usage in transportation, making its stores and support locations more energy efficient, offering sustainably and responsibly sourced seafood options in stores and implementing an expansive recycling program across its operations.
During its Good Together environmental campaign in April, the company’s associates and customers donated more than $2.6 million to help care for and protect natural resources in Publix’s eight-state operating area, according to the company.
