SPAR stores started participating in the Coastal Clean-up initiative in June for World Ocean Day. They will continue taking part in clean-ups in the summer months.
Seven coastal beach locations have already had a coastal clean-up, including Seaton Carew in County Durham, Southsea beach in Portsmouth plus Ballycastle Beach, Kilkeel Beach, Newcastle Beach, Killyleagh and Kircubbin in Northern Ireland.
SPAR provides stores with the opportunity to participate in the Million Mile Clean, and organisers SAS provide all the tools and kits to conduct the initiative. These kits include rubble sacks, gloves, and first aid kits for up to 30 volunteers.
SPAR UK, Brand and Marketing Director, Suzanne Dover, said: “We have arranged with Surfers Against Sewage that SPAR stores can sign up to participate in the Million Mile Clean. This is an initiative that involves bringing our communities together as well as helping the environment.”
“We are delighted to see eleven SPAR stores already getting behind this initiative and helping to clean up their local beaches. It has made an enormous difference to local communities.”
SPAR Seaton Crew in Durham, which is owned and serviced by SPAR’s wholesaler James Hall & Co. Ltd, took several colleagues with two members of the community out and cleaned Seaton Carew beach in early June.
Fiona Drummond, Company Stores Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “An important part of a community is its assets. The Coastal Clean-up provided our staff in Seaton Carew with a fantastic opportunity to look after the jewel in its crown, which is the town’s beach.
“SPAR stores are part of the fabric of their communities, and we were delighted that members of the public joined the store team for the clean-up to improve the beach for all who use it.”
Appleby Westward company-owned stores area manager Indya McLaren led a team of more than 20 store managers, deputy managers, and other colleagues on a beach clean at the end of June.
In Northern Ireland, Ballycastle Beach was cleaned up by store staff from EUROSPAR Ballycastle, SPAR Castle Street, SPAR Moyle Road, and Boyle’s SPAR Ballycastle.
Kilkeel Beach was also cleaned up by staff from EUROSPAR Greencastle Street and EUROSPAR Newcastle Road, both in Kilkeel. Colleagues said it was a very worthwhile cause and that they would happily do it again. Colleagues from EUROSPAR Newcastle town enjoyed getting together and cleaning up Newcastle beach.
Jack Middleton, a co-founder of Million Mile Clean, said: “At Surfers Against Sewage, we aim to make the UK a cleaner, greener place for everyone to enjoy. That’s why we’ve created our biggest ever beach clean campaign: the Million Mile Clean. We’re mobilising 100,000 people each year to get out there and protect the areas they love.”
“Our campaign reconnects communities with the environment and makes it as easy as possible to do and feel good. Beach cleaning boosts your mental health and wellbeing and provides a great opportunity to meet like-minded people. Plus, we send out a free beach clean kit to everyone who registers”, he added.
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.
