Nestle - London Marathon sponsorship deal referred to Charity Commission
Mike Brady | 16.04.2011 09:52
Nestlé, the UK's most boycotted company, is sponsoring the London Marathon and providing the ONLY water available to runners, forcing supporters of the boycott over its marketing of baby milk to break their personal boycotts or put their health at risk. The organisers have breached Charity Commission guidance on corporate sponsorship by refusing to be transparent about the charity's sponsorship policy.
Charity Commission asked to investigate Nestle deal with the London Marathon
Press release 15 April 2011
For full version and links to images and supporting documents, go to:
http://info.babymilkaction.org/pressrelease/pressrelease15apr11a
Baby Milk Action has asked the Charity Commission to investigate sponsorship of the London Marathon (Sunday 17 April) by Nestlé, the UK's most boycotted company, after the London Marathon Charitable Trust said its sponsorship policy is confidential and refused to discuss the appropriateness of Nestlé as a sponsor. Commission guidance states: "Charities should be transparent about any relationship they have with a commercial partner and put in place the appropriate safeguards." When Baby Milk Action contacted the London Marathon Charitable Trust last year, the first time the water available to runners was branded as Nestlé Pure Life, to discuss the sponsorship policy and introducing ethical clauses if these did not exist, it was told the policy was 'confidential'. All efforts to enter into discussion of the appropriateness of Nestlé were met with the response of 'no comment'.
Nestlé, is one of the four most boycotted companies on the planet because it is accused of marketing baby milk with strategies that that violate international standards. Yesterday (14 April), even Nestlé's newest board member, Ann Veneman, former head of UNICEF, acknowledged that Nestlé is not fully complying with the World Health Assembly marketing requirements and pledged to fight from within the company to change its marketing (click here). UNICEF has said that "Improved breastfeeding practices and reduction of artificial feeding could save an estimated 1.5 million children a year." Nestlé is trying to improve its image by sponsoring the London Marathon on Sunday 17 April 2011 with its 'Pure Life' bottled water brand, but is also attracting criticism over the impact of its bottled water operation.
Charity Commission guidelines on fundraising and sponsorship also state:
"Charities should be particularly cautious as co-branding or closely associating the charity with a company can become problematic if the company is discovered to engage in unethical practices or criminal activity. Charities need to carefully research the commercial participator and should consider whether a partnership with the commercial participator is appropriate and in line with the charity?s values and objects."
See full version of the press release for quote and mobile phone details for interviews:
http://info.babymilkaction.org/pressrelease/pressrelease15apr11a
Mike Brady
Press release 15 April 2011
For full version and links to images and supporting documents, go to:
http://info.babymilkaction.org/pressrelease/pressrelease15apr11a Baby Milk Action has asked the Charity Commission to investigate sponsorship of the London Marathon (Sunday 17 April) by Nestlé, the UK's most boycotted company, after the London Marathon Charitable Trust said its sponsorship policy is confidential and refused to discuss the appropriateness of Nestlé as a sponsor. Commission guidance states: "Charities should be transparent about any relationship they have with a commercial partner and put in place the appropriate safeguards." When Baby Milk Action contacted the London Marathon Charitable Trust last year, the first time the water available to runners was branded as Nestlé Pure Life, to discuss the sponsorship policy and introducing ethical clauses if these did not exist, it was told the policy was 'confidential'. All efforts to enter into discussion of the appropriateness of Nestlé were met with the response of 'no comment'.
Nestlé, is one of the four most boycotted companies on the planet because it is accused of marketing baby milk with strategies that that violate international standards. Yesterday (14 April), even Nestlé's newest board member, Ann Veneman, former head of UNICEF, acknowledged that Nestlé is not fully complying with the World Health Assembly marketing requirements and pledged to fight from within the company to change its marketing (click here). UNICEF has said that "Improved breastfeeding practices and reduction of artificial feeding could save an estimated 1.5 million children a year." Nestlé is trying to improve its image by sponsoring the London Marathon on Sunday 17 April 2011 with its 'Pure Life' bottled water brand, but is also attracting criticism over the impact of its bottled water operation.
Charity Commission guidelines on fundraising and sponsorship also state:
"Charities should be particularly cautious as co-branding or closely associating the charity with a company can become problematic if the company is discovered to engage in unethical practices or criminal activity. Charities need to carefully research the commercial participator and should consider whether a partnership with the commercial participator is appropriate and in line with the charity?s values and objects."
See full version of the press release for quote and mobile phone details for interviews:
http://info.babymilkaction.org/pressrelease/pressrelease15apr11a Mike Brady
Mike Brady
e-mail:
mikebrady@babymilkaction.org
Homepage:
http://www.babymilkaction.org/