Six leading retailers have channelled £120,000 into local charities and community projects thanks to The Coca-Cola Company.
The six-figure donation builds on the soft drink giant’s ‘The Bosses’ campaign, launched to celebrate 125 years of Coca-Cola in Great Britain.
The campaign brought six convenience retailers into the spotlight to celebrate their resilience, personality and pivotal role in community life and was featured in OOH advertising in and around each store owner’s local community.
For the next chapter of the campaign, each of the six ‘bosses’ was given a £20,000 fund to split between two charities that “hold personal significance and deliver meaningful support within their local areas”, said Coca-Cola.
In Edinburgh, Sophie Williams and her parents Linda and Dennis directed their donation to a local service supporting vulnerable people through companionship, social activities and essential assistance.
Sophie said: “I’m honoured to have been part of this campaign and to be able to shine a light on the charities that do so much for the community I grew up in. This donation will make a real difference to people locally, and I’m grateful to Coca-Cola for helping continue to support our work within the community around us.”
Sunita Aggarwal, owner of three convenience stores across Wigston and Leicester, chose to support local groups that focus on cultural enrichment and community service, reflecting her family’s commitment to helping others.
Sunita said she was honoured to be able to shine a light on a charity that does much for her community. ”The donation will make a real difference to people locally, and I’m grateful to Coca-Cola for helping continue the legacy of support my husband Raj worked so hard to build,” said Sunita.
In Middlesbrough, father and son retailer team Bay, Max and Ellis Bashir split their donation between two regional organisations providing vital cardiac support and emergency response services that make a life-saving difference across the area.
Bay added: “Being a part of Coca-Cola’s The Bosses campaign was a real pleasure – challenging the outdated perceptions of corner shop owners and recognising the dedication my family and I have put into our stores over the past 27 years. These donations to South Cleveland Heart Fund and The Great North Air Ambulance Service will make a significant impact in Middlesbrough, and I’m grateful to the Coca-Cola team for their unwavering support.”
Keith Tomes – representing his family whose convenience store in Swanage, on Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck, first opened in 1908 – dedicated his funding to a community trust working to rebuild a much-loved local skatepark and sustain services at a neighbourhood centre.
Keith said: “It has been a privilege to have taken part in The Bosses campaign, and my family and I are grateful to Coca-Cola for their generous support. This donation will make a significant impact on our local Swanage community, particularly in supporting projects at the Swanage local Skate Park and Herston Community Centre - ensuring these spaces remain vibrant and accessible for everyone.”
Kaual Patel, owner of Torridon Convenience Store in Catford, divided his contribution between a youth empowerment initiative and a community hub that promotes learning, arts and cultural participation in South East London.
Kaual said: “I’m honoured to have been part of this campaign and to be able to shine a light on the charities that do so much for the community I grew up in. This donation will make a real difference to people locally, and I’m grateful to Coca-Cola for helping continue to support our work within the community around us.”
Finally, Bobby Singh of BB Superstore & Post Office in Pontefract chose to give back to Pontefract Community Kitchen and The Prince of Wales Hospice, a care provider offering specialist support to people with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones.
Bobby said: “I’m honoured to have been part of this campaign and to be able to shine a light on the charities that do so much for our community. These donations will make a real difference to people locally, and I’m grateful to Coca-Cola for helping to support causes close to my heart and the local community”.
Stephen Moorhouse, general manager at CCEP GB, said the retailers featured in ‘The Bosses’ are extraordinary individuals who give so much to the people around them.
“We’re proud to work closely with convenience retailers across Great Britain, and these donations reflect our continued commitment to supporting the people and places at the heart of their communities,” said Moorhouse.
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