Issue Date: 28 August 2013
Ref: JIG13/07
MIDLANDS PRODUCERS RAISE MONEY FOR GROCERYAID
Karting event raises thousands of pounds for national charity
The Midlands branch of the national GroceryAid charity raised almost £2500 when people representing major food and drink brands came together for a special karting event earlier this year. Forty drivers in ten teams from businesses including Mars, Premier Foods, Pepsico, Weetabix, Tayto and Hancocks attended the event at F1K, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
“I was delighted with the turnout and would like to thank all of the participants for their generosity and for freely giving their time,” says Lee Smith, an Account Manager with Jigsaw who organised the event as a member of GroceryAid’s Midland Group committee.
GroceryAid is the new trading name of the National Grocers' Benevolent Fund, a charity for people who are working, or have worked, in the grocery, provisions, greengrocers and off-licence industries. It was formed in October 2012 following the merger of Caravan (the previous name of the NGBF charity) and Sweet Charity (the charity for the confectionery industry) with the aim of reaching the wider grocery industry sector.
GroceryAid looks after more than 6500 current and former industry colleagues and in these tough economic times will spend close to £3 million on welfare support during 2013. The breadth and depth of support offered ranges from an annual annuity to a crisis grant to the Welfare Helpline. The Helpline is free to everyone in the industry from the largest factory to the supply chain through to the smallest of stores.
“These are times of austerity across the industry and the support of the companies who attended this event has never been more vital in helping GroceryAid continue its good work in helping people from our industry who find themselves in difficult circumstances,” says Lee Smith.