PENNY Market, the discount chain part of REWE Group, is remaining active during the COVID-19 pandemic. While ensuring safe shopping for their customers and employees, they have decided to increase their support to European Food Banks, especially in Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and Romania.
- Czech Republic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spring Food Collection in PENNY stores in Czech Republic was cancelled. PENNY wanted to help the Czech Federation of Food Banksin a long-term and decided to donate food and products worth 500,000 crowns every month for the next 5 months. In total, food worth 2,500,000 crowns will be donated to the Food Banks.
“It was a matter of course for us to immediately prepare a project that would help people in a longer time period. We didn’t want to give a one-time gift”, says Jens Krieger, CEO of PENNY Czech Republic.
Veronika Láchová, director of the Czech Federation of Food Banks adds: “Due to the fact that we had to cancel the spring´s Food Collection, there was a risk that we will not be able to cover the needs of all those who are depending on our help. Therefore, I highly appreciate this gift, which will help us to overcome the most difficult times.”
Read more here.
- Hungary
PENNY Market is one of the major players in the Hungarian retail sector. After COVID-19 has reached Hungary, the supermarkets had to ensure safe shopping for their customers. While doing that, PENNY Market continued with the ongoing support of some organizations, like the National Food Bank of Hungary.
The pandemic led to a significant increase in the number of people in need of aid. To face this, PENNY Market decided to increase the value of their help to the Food Banks. In March and April, the donations have tripled. On top of that, knowing that there was a special need for hygiene products and cleaning supplies, the discount chain has decided to grant the Food Banks with an additional EUR 12.000 worth donation package of detergents and specific food items, which they delivered to their warehouse in the second half of May.
Read more here.
- Italy
Thanks to the partnership with Fondazione Banco Alimentare Onlus, PENNY Market donates an equal value up to 1,3 million euros in food items each year, from both stores and warehouse. The activity has continued even along these difficult weeks where restrictions to mobility required extra efforts at all level. An extra donation in essential food products – 810 packages of durable grocery – is also planned with the specific aim to add further support within the emergency.
On top of that, customers have the chance to “buy a little more, to do much more…” in almost 200 PENNY Market stores in Italy. That’s the campaign #SPESASOSPESA: in a dedicated area, customers can leave a piece of their shopping in the provided #SPESASOSPESA trolleys and on a regular basis, charities collect those donations and distribute them to family in difficulties. In 2 weeks, almost 300,000 euros in goods were collected and donated.
Read more here.
- Romania
In times of coronavirus PENNY Market Romania works very close with 6 strong non-governmental organization partners, among them Banca pentru Alimente, the Food Banks in Romania.
PENNY Market Romania donated basic food, dry and frozen products and also hygiene articles in order to cover basic needs for over 200 families in Bucharest, Ploiesti, Buzau, and another 150 families in Arad, Oradea, Timisoara, Lugoj. Products worth over 50,000 euros have been sent to the Food Bank network in Bucharest to be distributed to people with disabilities and disadvantaged communities who are in difficulty during this period.
The products mainly reached the families who are in the care of the associations “Ridica-te si umbla!”, Down Plus Bucharest Association and The Association of Muscular Dystrophies in Romania, members of the National Council of Disability in Romania, but also to other organizations that help people with disabilities like: Motivation, Alternative 2003, NANE, Swedish Organization, CONIL, Joubile, etc.
Read more here.
