South Cheshire food firm Bakkavor partners with Samaritans

South Cheshire fresh food company Bakkavor Group has announced a new charity partnership with Samaritans.

The firm, which has a base in Aston, near Nantwich, and in Crewe, say they want to support colleagues’ physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing as “a core priority”.

The company has established charity partnerships with GroceryAid and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.

They believe its collaboration with Samaritans will provide additional meaningful support and practical resources for employees.

Samaritans Training and Engagement Programmes (STEP) will provide training for Bakkavor’s Wellbeing Champions and leaders, equipping them with skills and knowledge to offer support to colleagues.

Bakkavor currently has 120 Wellbeing Champions dedicated to promoting mental health and wellbeing initiatives throughout its UK operations.

In 2024, the company also delivered Mental Health Awareness training to more than 7,000 colleagues.

Donna-Maria Lee, chief people officer of Bakkavor Group, said: “We recognise mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it remains a topic that many find difficult to discuss.

“That’s why we are incredibly proud to be partnering with Samaritans, an organisation that has been a beacon of support for those in emotional distress for more than 70 years.

“This collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering a culture where open conversations about mental health are encouraged, and where every colleague feels supported and valued.”

Gwen Grant, head of corporate partnerships at Samaritans, said: “We’re excited to work with Bakkavor and enhance their wellbeing initiatives for thousands of staff.

“Mental health in the workplace is an important issue, as we can all benefit from learning how best to manage our own wellbeing and better support our colleagues who may be struggling.

“Partnerships like these ensure Samaritans can continue to be there to listen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so we thank Bakkavor and look forward to creating change that can help save lives.”

Bakkavor’s annual wellbeing month in May focuses on wellbeing support for colleagues and promoting physical wellbeing through its ‘Big Bakkavor Walk’.