Wilf Whittle, Fresh Food Trading Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, delivered educational talks to children. He visited Longtown Primary School, Cumbria, Sherwood Primary School and Eldon Primary School, both Preston, Lancashire, on his travels.
Wilf shared fun facts and figures with children on a range of fresh produce during a series of special interactive assemblies and handed out a variety of high-quality fresh fruit.
He also highlighted several healthier and better value lunchbox alternatives to children and donated SPAR vouchers to the pupils to encourage spending on fresh products instore.
James Hall & Co. Ltd owns and services two SPAR stores in Longtown to support the rural community in and around the market town. In Preston postcode areas, SPAR has 35 stores that are integral to communities in the city and the towns and villages in its surrounding areas.
The visits by Wilf have been in line with two of SPAR’s key brand pillars – Nurturing Our Neighbourhoods and Passionate About Local – and he was left impressed by the children’s awareness of ‘five-a-day’ and their knowledge of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Wilf Whittle said: “Fresh food is my absolute passion. I was delighted to visit the children at schools in Cumbria and Lancashire to interact with them during one of my favourite weeks of the year – National Vegetarian Week.
“The enthusiasm the children had for fresh food was great to see. They had very good knowledge of fresh foods generally, which was exceptionally pleasing.
“I was asked some really interesting and diverse questions. The children gave some excellent answers when I quizzed them. After two years where we have not been able to get out into the communities we serve across the North of England, it was fantastic to be welcomed so warmly into the schools.”
Source: SPAR UK
The UK became a SPAR member in 1956 when SPAR International granted the SPAR licence to a group of independent wholesalers. As a result, 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 continue 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.
