SPAR Malone has officially reopened following an investment in the expansion of the store, and the team has been highlighting their commitment to the local community through various initiatives and partnerships.
The multi-award-winning store, which has been serving the local community since 2001, has recently completed works to make the store bigger and better for its shoppers, providing even more facilities, services and local products at value prices.
Providing such value and quality is not the only way the store gives back as the team has shown with their latest charitable efforts and contributions to facilities, organisations and initiatives that are important to them and their shoppers in the local area.
Sam McCann, Store Manager at SPAR Malone said; “Our store has been at the heart of south Belfast for 23 years, and we are committed to building meaningful relationships with our neighbours, our shoppers and the causes and organisations that mean the most to us all.”
The store nominated Air Ambulance NI as their charity of the month for August, and some of the team hiked up Cave Hill in support of Air Ambulance NI raising £455, while a Go Red event for NI Chest Heart & Stroke raised £300 for the local charity.
Four-legged friends cared for at the Mid Antrim Animal Sanctury were the recipients of £414 raised by the team at a dress-up day in-store, as well as a donation of lots of food and treats for the cats and dogs looking for forever homes.
In their area, the team has fantastic relationships with the local primary school and the South City Community Centre, who work together to provide a breakfast club to ensure no child goes to school hungry. SPAR Malone made donations to the Community Centre’s breakfast club and foodbank, allowing the teams there to reach even more in their neighbourhood.
St. Bride’s Primary School’s Primary 4 class even came along to the official reopening event for the new-look store earlier this month, giving them a chance to see the artwork they created during the Colour my Store competition to celebrate the opening.
As well as the store looking beautiful, the team regularly participates in litter picking around the vicinity of the store, ensuring the local neighborhood is in pristine condition.
Pauline Flanagan, Customer Advisor added; “I honestly love our litter picks, it’s nice to get out with my teammates and help tidy up, especially in such a busy area with the university, schools, offices and residential areas around us. It’s very rewarding when you see all the bags of rubbish collected – we’d already collected 30 bags by the summer – and it makes such a difference to the Malone Road area.”
Members of the team have also volunteered at the YMCA Community Garden, the Lennoxvale Tree Nursery Project and the Sans Sousi Resident’s Association throughout the year. At the YMCA Community Garden, they helped to develop and improve the space by maintaining the gardens and planting new bulbs. Not only did some of the team volunteer at the Lennoxvale project, but the store also donated compost and plants, while fueling their fellow volunteers with tea and coffee. The volunteer team also earned The Green Flag Community Award.
Sam finished; “It is a privilege to be able to give back to our local community. We have built strong relationships with all of our community partners, and hope to engage with many more as we grow as a business and a team.”
Discover more from LoveBelfast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
