British retailer Waitrose & Partners has announced that it has established the Waitrose & Partners Foundation (WPF) in Senegal and The Gambia.
From this month onwards, some 2% of the sales of products sourced from these countries will be forwarded to the WPF.
It will use these funds for various community development programmes in the region.
'Secure Supply Chains'
Partner and managing director of Waitrose, Rob Collins, said that the initiative "not only enables us to give back to communities that need it, through it, we build stronger relationships with our overseas growers and build strong, secure supply chains to ensure the highest quality produce.”
Waitrose & Partners has been souring fresh produce from The Gambia since 1995 and Senegal from 2010.
Ten new products will also be added to the retailer's fresh produce assortment, including butternut, green beans, salad onions, and mango, the company said.
'Wellbeing Of The Community'
Commenting on the benefits to locals in Senegal,Beverly Dixon, HR Director for G’s Fresh (a key supplier of produce to Waitrose & Partners), said, "Working with the Waitrose & Partners Foundation means we have greater opportunity to support the wider community of Ngnith in Senegal, from where we grow our winter salad onions and radish.
"Together we are able to increase the funding to further develop local education, health, and farming expertise, which are of significant benefit to improving the wellbeing of the community."
WPF will also collaborate with local charities and residents to select and support initiatives that will benefit farmers, their families, and the entire community.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
