SPAR has supported Workington Emergency Response Group’s Taste of Christmas campaign meaning 350 families most at need will receive a festive food parcel.
It is the third consecutive year that SPAR, through its North of England wholesaler and distributor James Hall & Co. Ltd, has supported the Group’s seasonal appeal.
Families in locations across the former Allerdale district including Aspatria, Cockermouth, Keswick, Maryport, Silloth, Wigton, and Workington will receive the food parcels this week ahead of Christmas Day on Thursday.
Christmas dinner essentials are included such as carrots, potatoes, and sprouts as well as pigs in blankets, stuffing and gravy. Dessert is covered off with Christmas pudding, custard, crackers and cheese, while snacks within the parcels include mince pies and crisps.
In the spirit of Christmas, SPAR has worked collaboratively with the Group, with turkey crowns and speciality cake this year coming from the Group’s supplier network to complete the Christmas parcels.
It is the sixth year the Workington Emergency Response Group has coordinated the festive food parcels, and this year the number of parcels distributed will surpass 2,500. The group will distribute this year’s 350 parcels to households through 43 referring organisations, and more than half of the individuals benefiting will be under the age of 18.
This year has proved more challenging for fundraising than previously, and the Group is seeking more businesses to come forward in 2026.
Liam Darby, from the Cockermouth Emergency Response Group, who support delivery of the project in Workington, said: “The Taste of Christmas project would not be possible without the invaluable support of organisations like SPAR and James Hall & Co. Ltd.
“For the past three years, SPAR has generously contributed to sourcing products for our Christmas food parcels. Sourcing has been crucial this year, enabling our food parcel funding to go even further in a year when our budget has been tighter.
“These parcels are distributed to households experiencing financial hardship during the festive period and the positive feedback we receive truly demonstrates their impact. If you are a company interested in supporting the project in 2026, please contact us at referrals@cerg.org.uk.”
Peter Dodding, Sales Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “It has been a pleasure collaborating with the Workington Emergency Response Group on Christmas food parcels for a third year, and I am very pleased that through the hard work of colleagues in our trading division we have been able to make every penny count for more in 2025.
“SPAR stores are at the heart of the communities they serve and local people in this part of Cumbria really value the presence of our stores in their towns and villages.
“We really try to go above and beyond during the season of goodwill to support those locally who need it, and we hope that all those receiving a food parcel have a happy Christmas.”
James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.