// M&S unveils new bags for life across whereby all profits will be donated to NHS Charities Together
// The limited edition 20p bags feature a rainbow and heart design as well as a “thank you” message for the NHS
// The news comes after M&S announced a series of initiatives to support the NHS’s response to coronavirus
M&S is set to unveil new, specially designed bags for life across its food stores and food halls whereby all profits will be donated to NHS Charities Together.
The limited edition 20p bags feature a rainbow and heart design as well as a “thank you” message in appreciation for NHS front line staff working round the clock in hospitals around the country during the coronavirus pandemic.
M&S said the bags will be available in all 560 of its grocery stores and foodhalls, and the high street stalwart plans to donate 100 per cent of profits – or 10p per bag – to NHS Charities Together to support staff and volunteers caring for Covid-19 patients.
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“We’re continuing to make it easier for customers to do their bit by enabling them to make a donation at our till points from tomorrow, in addition to selecting NHS Charities Together as their preferred Sparks charity,” M&S said in a statement.
The idea of the new bag for life to support NHS Charities Together was borne out of suggestions from M&S shop floor staff.
M&S food managing director Stuart Machin said: “When everyone is facing into personal challenges, it’s been really uplifting to see suggestions – big and small – pouring in from colleagues and customers on how we can get behind our communities and key workers.
“We’re so pleased that we’ve been able to turn another brilliant idea into action by launching these bags to say a big thank you to the NHS.”
The news comes after M&S last week announced a series of initiatives to support the NHS’s response to coronavirus in the UK.
This included the donation of thousands of specially-branded “We are the NHS” t-shirts as part of the uniform pack for NHS Nightingale frontline team in London, as well as clothing care packs to provide comfort for discharged patients at the temporary hospital.
M&S is also donating over 4000 pyjamas to be used as scrubs to NHS Derbyshire, which is located close to M&S’s Castle Donington distribution centre.
In addition, M&S Food started a new, twice-weekly free food delivery service for NHS workers at the retailer’s hospital partners at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Separately, M&S yesterday adapted capacity at its online warehouse to enable the processing of food parcels for vulnerable shoppers during the coronavirus crisis.
The retailer said it switched capacity at its Castle Donington ecommerce warehouse from clothing and home – its usual purpose – to food “in response to strong customer demand” for the food boxes.
The warehouse can dispatch 2500 food boxes per day and M&S has expanded the options available.
The boxes are delivered on a nominated day, with priority given to people over 70 using the retailer’s Sparks loyalty data – and are delivered contact-free.
M&S also said shoppers have so far ordered around 1000 of its e-gift cards, enabling older and self-isolating customers to get friends, relatives or volunteers to shop on their behalf.
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