This year’s Grocery Aid ball raised nearly three quarters of a million pounds for the industry’s charity, which provides a range of vital benefits for colleagues who have fallen on hard times or rely on others for contact or support.
More than 160 companies from throughout the industry attended the event last week, raising over £712k for the charity, including £250k raised through the Silent Auction. The funds raised at the event will provide support for thousands of colleagues in need.
Charles Wilson, ceo of Booker and GroceryAid president, kicked off the event and told those in attendance: “Last year GroceryAid helped over 15,700 people through the Helpline, from factories, wholesale, retail – all parts of our grocery trade.”
The event featured a video screening of a case study, Martin’s Story, about how counselling arranged by Grocery Aid helped one man overcome a mental health crisis.
Steve Barnes, Chief Executive of GroceryAid said; “We did something tonight that we had never done before, one of our beneficiaries volunteered to tell his story in front of over 1000 industry colleagues. Martin gripped the room and his story resonated with some of the most important people in our industry and for us, I think it will lead to a real step-change on how we are perceived as an organisation.”
Entertainment for the evening included performances from McFly and Tokio Myers, and sponsors included Accolade Wines, Arla, Asda, Aston Manor, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Danone, Mars, Moet, Mondelez, Nestle, Ornua, Proctor & Gamble, Pepsi, Quorn, Saputo, Symingtons and Warburtons.
Next year’s GroceryAid Ball will take place on March 4, 2021. For more information visit www.groceryaid.org.uk.
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