Cadbury today announced a sponsorship agreement with Notts County Football Club, the oldest professional football club in the world.
The unique deal will see the chocolate brand donating its advertising opportunities to local Nottingham businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are extremely excited to work with Notts County on this unique partnership, which builds on our other collaborations with football clubs across the UK, and deepens the positive impact we are able to make in communities across the country,” said Nick Rogers, senior brand manager at Cadbury.
“Cadbury was founded on an ethos of generosity that we still live by today and we’re very proud of what this partnership with Notts County will achieve in the local community, particularly in driving economic recovery of those in the local area.”
The front of shirt sponsorship will go to coach operator Sharpes of Nottingham, which has been forced to a halt as a result of the lockdown. The deal also secures the ongoing relationship between the family-run business and Notts County by guaranteeing the travel logistics for both the team and supporters who use official club travel throughout the duration of the contract.
James Sharpe, operations director of Sharpes of Nottingham, said: “This is simply amazing news that has provided some light during a dark time for us. Our fleet hasn’t turned a wheel since 23rd March, which has hugely impacted us as a family run business.
“It is an honour to be the home kit sponsor of Notts County Football Club and we can’t thank Cadbury and the club enough for this act of generosity and the difference it will make.”
The city’s historic Cattle Market and its traders are also set to benefit from the deal as well as Treetop Catering, a mobile caterer supplying food and catering units all across the country.
Jason Turner, chief executive of Notts County, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to continue our trend of launching innovative sponsorship campaigns by teaming up with an incredible global brand in Cadbury to help three fantastic local businesses.
“Sharpes, Arthur Johnson and Sons and Treetop are all companies we know well and who we have of course been concerned about throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, so to be able to help them in this way is brilliant. We’d like to warmly welcome Cadbury and the three beneficiaries on board.”