From left to right: Nigel Masters, Claire Dwyer, Sue Masters, and Mikey Goodwin for SPAR Oswaldtwistle, with Niels Dekkers, Retail Development Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd.
Download imageThe highest fundraising independent store is Nigel and Sue Masters’ SPAR store in Oswaldtwistle, which has raised £5,271.75 since SPAR partnered with Marie Curie in March 2017.
Leading company-owned SPAR stores that have driven fundraising on the ground in communities include Sandringham Way, Walton-le-Dale (£5,302.05), Hutton Way, Carlisle (£4,555.45), East Ayton, Scarborough (£4,194.74), and Eston, Middlesbrough (£2,779.70).
The SPAR regional partner supports Marie Curie through several initiatives. These include yellow collection boxes and Marie Curie’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal in March. Another initiative is the National Day of Reflection (23 March), when Marie Curie encourages everyone to show their support for the millions of people bereaved during the pandemic and remember the people we’ve lost.
The company donates a penny to Marie Curie from the sale of every SPAR sandwich sold in one of the 600 SPAR stores in Northern England. SPAR UK has also helped distribute PPE to frontline Marie Curie Nurses throughout the pandemic.
Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life care charity, provides essential frontline nursing and hospice care for people with any terminal illness. The charity also offers support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement.
Nigel Masters said: “I’m surprised and very happy to be the leading SPAR independent retailer in the North of England for Marie Curie fundraising. It’s a terrific feeling to have contributed so much to the £500,000 milestone achieved by James Hall & Co. Ltd.”
“I know from personal experience just how valued skilled and compassionate end of life care is by families for their loved ones. Marie Curie is a wonderful cause.”
“We have a first-class community SPAR store here in Oswaldtwistle. Our staff wholeheartedly get behind fundraising opportunities. Local residents and businesses appreciate this. I think it is why our customers have supported Marie Curie so generously.”
Niels Dekkers, Retail Development Director at James Hall & Co., said: “The £500,000 milestone for Marie Curie is a huge achievement for our company. It is a very proud moment for James Hall & Co. Marie Curie provides an incredible end of life care service. We are delighted to be able to support this invaluable work.”
“This latest milestone, coming just 12 months after reaching the £400,000 mark, could not have been achieved so quickly without the kind-heartedness of our loyal customers across the North of England, combined with the commitment and inventiveness of stores and their fundraising initiatives. I would like to congratulate the team at Masters Oswaldtwistle for their brilliant fundraising work.”
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.
