Shropshire store supports good causes with £1,600 raised by shoppers
An independent Shropshire supermarket has handed out £1,600 to good causes, thanks to an innovative scheme that raises money every time customers buy their groceries.
The Harry Tuffins store in Craven Arms is owned by the Delves family, who bought it back a year after the chain was sold Midcounties Co-operative Society in 2012.
Since they have had a renewed drive to make money for community projects that has paid off for five causes in and around Craven Arms.
Harry Delves, the great-grandson of founder Harry Tuffins and commercial director at the store said: "The money has been raised through Making a Difference Locally, a charity run by Nisa, who are our main suppliers.
"With certain products a percentage goes into a pot - for example it might be two pence from a bag of potatoes - and you build up a fund to allocate to local community projects.
"In this round we've been able to donate £1,600 to five local causes - Craven Arms Youth Football Team, Stokesay Church, the Ale in the Dale festival that supports Diddlebury Village Hall, Craven Arms Youth Club and Church Stretton Community First Responders.
"It puts money into a pot without even really thinking about it," he said. "It's a very good project.
"It's an ongoing scheme, but it's something that's been highlighted since we took over the store last year."
The 10 Harry Tuffins stores were sold by Roy and Ruby Delves of the original Tuffins family two years ago, but the Craven Arms store was bought back by their son Paul Delves, Harry's father, last year.
Harry said there were more fundraising schemes in the pipeline by staff at the store.
"We've always been known at Harry Tuffins for trying to support local communities," he said, "I had a friend who had taken part in the Shropshire Mud Run, and I thought that sounded like something I'd like to try."
He said he put the word out to staff and got together a team of six who decided they would like to raise money for Midlands Air Ambulance in the Mud Run at Lilleshall on July 19.
"The air ambulance has played a part in saving a lot of people's live around here. In a rural area such as in and around Craven Arms it's an important service to have," he said.
Any causes that would like to be considered for the Making a Difference Locally fund should contact the Craven Arms store on 01588 672202.
The Making a Difference logo in store highlights the products which can help towards the scheme.
