Waitrose Foundation and Farm Africa win Business Charity Award
11 May 2023
The Waitrose Foundation and Farm Africa won the award for 'Food & Beverage Charity Partnership of the Year' at last night’s annual Third Sector Business Charity Awards. The awards, which were held at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square, celebrated and recognised outstanding partnerships of businesses and charities.
The Waitrose and Farm Africa partnership was also highly commended for the Business of the Year award.
Together, the Waitrose Foundation and Farm Africa work to improve the lives of vegetable and flower farmers and workers on 23 farms in the Waitrose supply chain in Kenya and Tanzania.
Since the partnership began in 2017, Waitrose and Farm Africa have delivered 60 community-led projects including green energy provision, school infrastructure, tree nurseries, female health and sanitation, microfinance and an emergency Covid-19 response campaign. These projects have benefitted 20,000 farmers and workers and 100,000 members of the wider community.
Current work includes improving climate resilience for 4,500 workers through training, income diversification, green energy sources and afforestation.
The Third Sector Business Charity Awards judges commented: “A wonderful initiative. This is a good example of what all food and beverage retailers should be doing to ensure sustainability right through the supply chain.”
Charlotte di Cello, Waitrose Commercial Director, and Chair of Waitrose Foundation Global Board says, "We are delighted to have won this award for our work supporting the people who grow, pick and pack fresh produce and flowers in Kenya and Tanzania. We are proud that our partnership with Farm Africa is driven by workers’ voices, at the heart of the Foundation and together we are empowering communities to identify their local needs and take a lead in the planning and delivery of projects, which ensures we achieve the best impact.”
Anissa Msallem, Head of Partnerships at Farm Africa, added: “Farm Africa is proud to receive recognition for our work with the Waitrose Foundation to significantly improve the livelihoods of farmers and workers in Kenya and Tanzania, while at the same time creating a more resilient supply chain for Waitrose.”
