As a bakery, partnering with local charities in your community can be a strategic way to give back to your local area while reducing your bakery waste and your associated costs, whilst also enhancing your brand image.
Read our guide on how to partner your bakery with a charity and make the most of these opportunities.
Table of Contents
- Finding Local Charities for your Bakery
- Examples of Local Charities
- Benefits of Partnering with Local Charities
- Marketing Your Partnership with Charities as a Bakery
- Conclusion
Finding Local Charities for your Bakery
First things first, you’ll need to find and identify some charities that actually align with your bakery’s values and mission.
You can find local charities at local community centres, charity directories, and on social media platforms.
Websites like Charity Navigator, Charity Choice, UK Charity Commission and GuideStar provide lots of detailed information on various charities, including their missions and their financial health.
For a more personal touch, you can reach out directly to local food banks, shelters and community shelter organisations.
You could also consider partnering with Neighbourly, which connects businesses with local charities to make donating food waste even easier.
Examples of Local Charities
Here are some examples of charities that some of our bakery customers tend to partner with:
- Trussell Trust: This organisation supports a nationwide network of food banks and provides emergency food and support to people in crisis.
- Shelter: A charity that helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through advice, support, and legal services.
- FareShare: This UK-wide charity redistributes surplus food to charities that turn it into meals for vulnerable people.
- Too Good to Go: Not a charity, but Too Good To Go is an app that connects users with local businesses to purchase surplus food at a discounted price, reducing food waste. Helps local people get food
Benefits of Partnering with Local Charities
Partnering with local charities offers numerous benefits:
- Community Engagement: It strengthens your connection with the community and shows customers that you care about local issues.
- Enhanced Reputation: Supporting charities can improve your bakery’s public image and help create and sustain customer loyalty.
- Employee Morale: Engaging in charitable activities can boost employee morale and create a positive workplace culture.
Marketing Your Partnership with Charities as a Bakery
To maximise the impact of your charitable efforts, ensure your customers know about your partnerships.
Here are some marketing strategies:
- Social Media Campaigns:
Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share stories and updates about your charitable activities.
Highlight specific events, donation drives, and the impact of your contributions.
- In-Store Promotions:
Create displays and signage in your bakery that inform customers about your charitable partners and how their purchases support these causes.
- Special Products:
Develop special products or promotions where a portion of the proceeds goes to charity.
For instance, Three Brothers Bakery’s “Cookies for a Cause” donates 50% of cookie sales to a different charity each month.
- Events and Fundraisers:
Host events such as bake sales, charity runs, or community gatherings to raise funds and awareness.
GAIL’s Bakery, for example, hosts coffee mornings to support local initiatives.
Conclusion
Partnering with local charities is a powerful way to support your community while building a positive brand image.
By thoughtfully selecting charities, engaging in meaningful collaborations, and effectively marketing your efforts, your bakery can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need while strengthening its connection with the community.
