The pledge was made through the Warburtons Foundation, which works to support families across the UK through community hubs like food banks and schools.
Since founding as a grocery shop in Bolton by Thomas and Ellen Warburton in 1876, the family-owned bakery business has been passionate about supporting charities and those in need. It has raised its game for the next year, setting a donation goal of 1.25 million products by October 2023.
The Foundation is also committed to funding local charities and community groups across the UK through its financial giving programme, and has donated more than £260k this year.
In partnership with education specialists, it has also launched the Bake the Most of Life initiative, to help tackle the gap in food education by supporting both primary and secondary schools with curriculum-linked, free online resources and funding farm visits for children in inner city schools.
'Vital to play our part'
The company’s chairman and fifth-generation Warburton personally delivered this year’s millionth product to Church Road Primary School, a stone’s throw from the company’s flagship bakery in Bolton.
“I am really pleased we reached our commitment to donate one million products this year; it’s been a delight to visit Church Road Primary School to meet some of the children our donations go towards supporting,” said Warburton.
“Our family business has been supporting local communities since we began and it remains incredibly important to us to this day.
“Things are difficult for so many families at the moment and we recognise how vital it is that we continue to listen and act so that we can help play our part in supporting families across the country as best we can.
“We look forward to helping out the community in the years to come and meet our next target of 1.25 million donations in the next 12 months.”
A loaf of bread
Added Deborah Docherty, headteacher at Church Road Primary School, “It’s extremely important for us that children attending school aren’t hungry and the donations we receive from The Warburtons Foundation help us provide our pupils with the best start to the day.
“The donation will not only support our children in school but provide them with something to take home as we know that there are many families for whom a loaf of bread is a great help right now.”
Warburtons is the number one brand within the UK bakery sector, operating 11 bakeries and 18 depots that span the length and breadth of Great Britain . With a fleet of almost 1,000 vehicles, the 144-year-old company delivers its 90-strong product portfolio direct to 18,500 retail customers every day.
