Share the love this Valentine’s Day by donating an item or two at Co-op store food banks

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 04/02/2020


Central England Co-op is encouraging its customers and members to ‘love your local food bank’ this Valentine’s Day by donating an item when buying a gift for a loved one.

In the run up to February 14, the retailer is appealing to people to help those in need by dropping in an extra item or two into special collection points located in over 200 food stores across 16 counties at the same time that they might be picking up a special treat for their other half.

Items that can be donated include shopping basket staples from tea, sugar and cereals to other essentials such as toiletries and hygiene products.
This latest appeal comes as the retailer revealed that the generosity of customers and members saw over 275,000 items donated during 2019 – helping over 60 food banks dish out enough food to create over 110,000 meals for people throughout the year.

Central England Co-op Store Manager Suzanne Young said: “We all like to treat a loved one for Valentine’s Day but this year all of us here at Central England Co-op are encouraging people to share the love by supporting our amazing food bank partners.

“By just dropping an item or two - whether it be an everyday essential or a sweet treat – it could make a real difference at this time of year, a time of year when demand is high on already stretched food banks.

“In the run up to Valentine’s Day please, if you can, dig deep and help support some great and vital local good causes and love your local food bank.”

Over 90% of Central England Co-op Food Stores now have food bank collection points permanently installed throughout the year, with special awareness campaigns run during Easter, summer and Christmas to boost donation numbers at times of major need.

 

Notes to editors

 

Picture caption: Central England Co-op colleague is urging people to love your local food bank this Valentine’s Day.

 

About Central England Co-operative

 

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. 

 

It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, travel shops, and property investment.

 

Central England Co-operative has over 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2020.

 

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports several charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

 

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

 

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

 

Rob Smyth and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 421390

 

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop