GroceryAid is, as the name suggests, the charity for the grocery sector.

It is one that we are passionate about supporting at Princes and makes a difference to the lives of our colleagues and others working in the food and drink industry.

GroceryAid has been providing free and confidential emotional, practical and financial support to anyone who works in the grocery sector, since 1857, not just colleagues but also their partners and dependants.

Support can include non-repayable financial grants, debt advice, carers support, counselling support, online health and wellbeing guides, plus legal advice.

We recognise that the charity can only maintain the depth and breadth of the services it offers if Princes and other organisations in our sector roll up our sleeves to help whether that is through raising awareness, volunteering or fundraising.

We are therefore humbled that the efforts that colleagues have made in this regard have led to Princes being granted Gold Award status by GroceryAid. We had previously held Bronze status.

Joe Dent, Chief People Officer at Princes, said: “I am delighted to see Princes playing its part to support the efforts of GroceryAid.

“Thanks to their services, all of us who work in the grocery sector have free and immediate access to the highest quality emotional, physical and financial support.

“We might have been awarded Gold status, but GroceryAid is the real champion of this story and one that I know colleagues will continue to promote tirelessly.”

During 2024, Princes played an active role in GroceryAid’s D&I in Grocery LIVE! event which was held in London in October.

Princes’ Inclusion and Diversity Manager, Siwan Smith, is Deputy Chair of the D&I in Grocery LIVE! steering committee, giving Princes the opportunity to help promote ideas and initiatives and work in partnership with many of our customers and peers across the industry such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

An example of this was the inclusion of two Sunflower rooms at the event which stemmed from our own experience at Princes where similar rooms have been so beneficial in providing wellbeing support to colleagues.

During the event, Siwan also took part in a panel discussion, along with representatives from Tesco, Procter & Gamble and the Co-op looking at what needs to be done to futureproof our industry regarding diversity.

Princes also took the opportunity to light up our iconic Liverpool head office to mark GroceryAid Day in May. The multi-coloured lighting up of the historic Royal Liver Building was a way of celebrating GroceryAid’s support of colleagues working in the grocery industry.

Colleagues have also been busy fundraising for the charity, with in-house activities and events with third parties helping to raise all-important funds.

• For more information about GroceryAid and the incredible work that the charity does for colleagues and their families across the grocery sector go to groceryaid.org.uk