Our thinking

Raise a Toast

10 April, 2020

Marketing has changed. Whilst the emails urging us to revamp our work–from–home wardrobe for the video calls (we don’t think they mean pyjamas) haven’t stopped, there has been a definite shift towards cause related marketing, encouraging us to help others through the purchases we make. 

Despite an abundance of excellent examples, this week, we wanted to showcase three great companies we know well, that are selling delicious and ethically sourced food that helps other people. 

Toast Ale is an innovative social enterprise that brews award–winning beer made from the fresh surplus bread from bakeries and sandwich–makers that would otherwise be wasted. This week, Toast has announced that it is working with its charity partner, Feedback, to fund projects to feed people in need. Toast’s new online meal deal means that every beer bought will fund a meal for a vulnerable person in some of the most deprived areas of the UK (1 beer = 1 meal). The campaign has already had an incredible response and will be running for at least the next 12 weeks. 

Leon, the self-proclaimed home of ‘naturally fast food’ (and addictive jackfruit wings, which we miss very much) has launched a not-for-profit campaign, ‘#FeedNHS‘, which is raising money to provide food for NHS workers. The campaign also involves several of Leon’s competitors and provides hot, healthy meals to NHS teams on the frontline – having already raised over £878,000 for UCL Hospital’s charity. And with all profits from Leon’s new ‘Feed Britain‘ platform (which provides delivery of some Leon favourites to homes within the M25) also being donated to the cause, it looks set to reach its target of £1m very soon. 

Finally, with Easter ahead, a shout–out to Cocoa Runners – providers of ethically sourced, artisan chocolate. ‘Chocs for docs‘ lets customers donate chocolate to frontline workers and the (often overlooked) cleaners and support staff with profits going to food banks, which are quickly running out of money to meet ever growing need.  

So why not help yourself, whilst helping others this Easter?