SPAR Scotland is running a community cashback campaign during the UK’s hosting of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021. The SPAR regional operator is donating £26,000 (€30,660) to 26 charities, community groups and projects across Scotland. 

Colin McLean, CEO of SPAR Scotland, said: “We are asking customers, employees and the general public to nominate charities, community groups or projects.” 

“We are looking for local litter picking groups, planting trees and recycling initiatives, community social projects, green space developments and many more green ideas that happen in local communities around Scotland to support. They will then be in with a chance to receive a £1,000 cash donation from SPAR Scotland.”

Nominations will be shortlisted, and customers given the power to decide who will get donations with a public vote. The campaign is centred on SPAR Scotland’s three pillars of community, people and planet. 

In conjunction with the community cashback campaign throughout November, the group will be including fun facts on how SPAR Scotland stores and the team at the Dundee depot are changing processes and cutting back on waste. 

The business has embarked on a number of its green initiatives, including: 

• Zero waste to landfill;

• 660 tonnes of cardboard recycled;

• Since August 2019, working in partnership with Dundee Community Fridge, around 40,000 free meals provided to date;

• By partnering with the Healthy Living Programme for many years, SPAR Scotland encourages school children to make healthy choices in their everyday lives;

• SPAR Scotland actively promotes football to girls aged between 12 and 16 right across Scotland, encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle.

McLean added: “Corporate Social Responsibility sits at the heart of our transformation journey, and with COP26 taking place in Scotland this year, we wanted to use the event as a platform to focus on improving the environment and social matters within the communities in which we operate. Our donations will hopefully help local communities, and if successful, we intend on making this an annual initiative and building on what we donate this year.”

SPAR Scotland will promote the campaign in-store and on digital channels, including the website, social media, media screens, and SPAR Radio. 

Source: SPAR UK

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About SPAR UK

The UK became a SPAR member in 1956 when SPAR International granted the SPAR licence to a group of independent wholesalers. There are now five regional partners in the UK. A central office in London provides national marketing and buying services for the group.

SPAR has led the highly competitive convenience market in the UK for many years. Always innovative, the five regional partners have continued to grow the brand. SPAR UK comprises independently owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores. These include forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres, and local neighbourhood stores.