Suntory's £2.5m Community Fund for Positive Impact in GB&I

​​​​​​​Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) has unveiled its Together for Good: SBF GB&I Community Fund, a new initiative designed to deliver measurable positive impact across local communities.

The company, which manufactures well-known brands such as Lucozade and Ribena, has committed to invest up to £2.5m (US$3.4m) into communities throughout the UK and Ireland by 2030.

The fund represents a significant step in the company's ongoing commitment to supporting the areas where it operates.

Match funding for local projects

The initiative operates through a match funding model, offering up to £10,000 (US$13,650) for each qualifying project.

SBF GB&I has established a Crowdfunder platform where applicants can raise funds, with the company matching contributions to effectively double the investment.

The programme has been designed to ensure that change is driven by and for the people closest to the local community.

Local charities, social enterprises and community groups based near SBF GB&I's head office in Uxbridge, its factory in the Forest of Dean and its office in Dublin can bring forward projects.

The company encourages projects that promote community wellbeing, support essential services or improve shared spaces and natural environments.

Elise Seibold, Chief Operating Officer at SBF GB&I, says: "We know the best ideas for creating positive impact in the local areas come from the people that live and work there.

"Through our new Together for Good: SBF GB&I Community Fund, we're empowering local groups to turn innovative ideas into action.

"This initiative is a key part of our commitment to Giving Back to Society, supporting communities where we live and work. By backing community-led solutions, our fund helps deliver change that truly matters and underlines our long-term commitment to drive sustainable impact where it's needed most."

Aligning with company purpose

According to SBF GB&I, projects must reflect the company's purpose to "inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature" in order to receive funding.

Local groups can apply for support to help establish, sustain or expand work that creates positive impact in their communities.

Eligible initiatives include regenerating green spaces, supporting mental and physical wellbeing, connecting young people with nature or fostering social inclusion.

The fund aims to provide practical support for community-led solutions that address local needs.

Matt Bishop, MP for the Forest of Dean, says: "I'm pleased to see SBF GB&I launching its Together for Good Community Fund, which will bring meaningful support to community groups across the Forest of Dean.

"In the year its Coleford factory celebrates 80 years here, the fund reflects a long-standing commitment to our community.

"I encourage local charities and groups to join the Crowdfunder platform and put forward projects that can make a real difference."

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• Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
• Sustainability LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22

Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, these events brings together CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

Building on existing initiatives

The Community Fund builds upon SBF GB&I's Together for Good volunteering and charitable donation platform, which launched in 2023.

As part of the platform, employees can volunteer their time to give back to charities important to them.

According to the company, SBF GB&I employees volunteered more than 1,600 hours to their chosen causes in 2024.

The Community Fund will combine with the volunteering initiative under the Together for Good umbrella, uniting the company's charitable efforts.

In the company's 2024 Sustainability Report, Pierre Decroix, CEO, says: "I believe we have truly worked to 'inspire the brilliance of life' and central to this is our delivery on the commitments to sustainability which are a personal and organisational passion.

"It also matters hugely to me that we held strong to the compass of 'Growing for Good' that has been part of our reason for being since Suntory was founded in 1899.

"This philosophy guides us through times that are rough as well as those that are smooth and has remained a powerful force, helping us as we make difficult decisions, this year as always."