Food Company Redwood Becomes PETA Europe’S First Uk ‘Business Friend’ As More Businesses Work With Charities

Funds Raised Will Support the PETA Research and Education Foundation

For Immediate Release:
19 July 2005

Contact:
Sophie Pritchard (PETA) 020 7357 9229, ext. 233
Caroline Beynon (Redwood) 01536 400557

London – Award-winning vegetarian and vegan food specialist The Redwood Company today becomes the first official sponsor of a new corporate-fundraising programme being unveiled by PETA Europe, a UK affiliate of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the largest animal rights organisation in the world, with more than 850,000 members worldwide and 86,000 members and supporters in the UK.

As public pressure mounts on the business world to meet corporate social-responsibility standards, more and more companies are eager to work with charities and not-for-profit organisations (NFPs). Donations from UK companies are rising, and research shows that it really does make business sense to support charities and NFPs. Nine out of 10 consumers have bought products associated with a cause they care about, and almost 70 per cent want to see more companies involved with charities. And it’s not just consumers who care about good causes – businesses that support charities and NFPs also see increased staff retention and more successful recruitment. As the UK is well known as an animal-loving nation, PETA Business Friends gives companies the perfect opportunity to appeal to consumers and employees alike, and PETA Europe is expecting a very positive response to the programme.

The pioneering Business Friends scheme is being launched by PETA Europe to benefit the PETA Research and Education Foundation (PREF), which promotes compassion toward animals among children and young adults through innovative free materials for schools.

In the United States, PETA US has been running a similar corporate-partnership programme with great success for the last four years. Now that Redwood has signed up as the launch sponsor of the UK scheme, PETA Europe hopes that other likeminded companies will follow in its footsteps by joining Business Friends, which offers many valuable high-visibility opportunities to promote businesses.

Keith Stott of Redwood, which was recently awarded ethical company status by The Ethical Company Organisation, said they were delighted to become PETA Europe’s first Business Friend and lead sponsor in the UK. “In PETA Europe, we have found a compassionate partner that closely mirrors our own beliefs and ideals”, he said. “We have been particularly impressed by PREF’s charitable education programmes and are pleased that our sponsorship will help its groundbreaking work to stop animal abuse and suffering.”

Says Sophie Pritchard, PETA Europe’s corporate partnership manager, “Redwood is the perfect ‘Business Friend’. A recent survey of our members has shown that although many of them are vegan or vegetarian, many also continue to eat meat because they don’t know where to find alternatives. As well as raising funds that will enable us to turn good plans into concrete achievements, our partnership with Redwood will also help us show how more of our members can make the transition to an animal-free diet”.

Renowned for its compassion, Redwood produces a wide variety of natural plant-based healthy foods that help to protect people, the environment and animals. Its totally animal-free range includes dairy-free ‘cheeses,’ as well as alternatives to meat and fish, all sold under the Cheatin’, Cheezly and Vegideli brand names. 

Notes for Editors

About Redwood:
Award-winning vegetarian and vegan food specialist The Redwood Wholefood Company was recently awarded ethical company status by the Ethical Company Organisation (ECO), which runs the UK’s only corporate-level company-accreditation scheme. The accreditation relates to all aspects of Redwood’s business and is only awarded to companies that score highly (top 33 per cent) overall compared to other companies in their sector.

To find out more about Corby-based Redwood and its extensive range of foods for vegetarians, vegans and people with special dietary needs, please go to www.redwoodfoods.co.uk.

About PETA US:
Founded in 1980 in the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals believes that animals deserve the most basic rights – consideration of their own best interests – and operates under the simple principle that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on or use for entertainment.

PETA US works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement and direct action.

PETA Europe, based in London, was launched in 1994 and was the first international PETA affiliate.

For more information about PETA Europe’s work, please visit PETA.org.uk.

About PREF:
The PETA Research and Education Foundation, a registered UK charity, focuses on developing and distributing unique research and educational materials. PREF’s Web site, AllAboutAnimals.org.uk, offers resources, ideas and templates for lesson plans and school projects that encourage kids to respect and have compassion for animals.

All funds raised by PETA Europe’s Business Friends are donated to PREF.

Hi-resolution photographs to accompany this story are available on request.

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