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IMPORTANT CHANGES TO RITCHIES COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAM

Dear Valued Customers and Community Groups,

Thanks to you, Ritchies has donated just on $36,000,000 to more than 6,000 local clubs, schools and charities, since the inception of our famous 'Community Benefit Program'. We are very proud of this achievement!

I am writing to you to let you know about some changes to our Program that will be taking effect from 1st September 2010.

Ritchies is tailoring its Community Benefit Program, to increase the benefit to YOU, by offering cheaper prices in every store, every week. We will introduce these permanent cheaper prices starting this month, to celebrate our 140th Birthday! Your feedback has told us that you are looking for better value for money from your supermarket and liquor shopping experience and this is what we want to deliver to YOU.

Furthermore, you can now elect to receive over and above late week specials via MMS/SMS directly to your mobile phone. Even more reason to be a Community Benefit Card member! Please ask any of our stores for details if you wish to sign up for this service.

Because we are tightening our belts to bring you cheaper weekly specials, we will need to change the percentage of Ritchies Community Benefit Card donations to 0.5%, instead of the current 1%. This new rate will apply to all purchases made from 1st September 2010.

It will still only take 20 people spending $25 a week to qualify for the minimum monthly donation of $10 (0.5% of $2,000.00). Obviously, the more customers nominating a community group or organisation, the more money that group is likely to receive from Ritchies, thanks to your support!

We have donated almost $36,000,000 to thousands of local community groups in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, since the introduction of the Program in 1993.

We will continue to donate to your nominated organisation, but now YOU will receive greater benefits directly, by all the extra great savings to be made in our supermarkets and liquor stores.

If you have any questions regarding Ritchies Community Benefit Program, please contact me on 03 9784 2000 or email: judyr@ritchies.com.au

Cupcake Day for the RSPCA–Calling all Cupcake lovers!!

It is that time of year again; break out the oven mitts and spatulas and get ready to cook your way towards some fabulous fundraising for the RSPCA! Cupcake Day is officially on 16 August but you can pick a day that suits you and help us by baking cupcakes, taking them to your workplace, kids' schools or community groups and donating the proceeds you get to the RSPCA. Visit www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au to register and find out more. You can also help us be distributing posters and flyers in you local community – we'd be happy to send you a pack, just call Kavitha on 03 9224 2210 or email cupcakeday@rspcavic.org.au.

Scouts say thanks to Ritchies and Nestle!

Scouts Australia is to be the beneficiary of a donation from Ritchies totaling $33,045.58. This represents 5 cents from every Nestle product sold at Ritchies during the month of March in support of the scouting movement.

Scout groups visited many Ritchies stores to promote scouting, sell raffle tickets and ask people to support their groups through Ritchies Community Benefit program. If you would like to support the scouting movement, you can nominate your local scout group at your local Ritchies supermarket.

OXFAM says 'Thanks'

In response to the huge disaster in Haiti, Ritchies Stores sent an immediate donation of $50,000 from Ritchies Stores Pty Ltd Emergency Relief Trust Fund (with the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation) to the Haiti Earthquake Response Fund set up by Oxfam Australia.

Oxfam has its emergency response team for Latin America based in Haiti so they were well prepared, with a public health, water and sanitation team in Port-au-Prince ready to respond.

Click here to find out more...

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'Buying Australian' Guide – as seen on Today Tonight

Reporter: Helen Wellings      Broadcast Date: January 26, 2010

Of the 50,000 items in our supermarkets only 10 per cent are now made locally and owned by Australian companies.

With 90 per cent of products in the supermarket manufactured overseas by foreign-owned companies it is increasingly difficult and confusing trying to track down the true-blue brands.

Mike Rogers from Fightback Australia is conducting a nation-wide campaign with IGA stores. The IGA Choose Me label direct you to the diminishing Aussie products. "Every day Australian products are getting replaced by foreign ones and it's getting bloody serious," he said.

Choosing local products can save money too. Lynne Wilkinson from Ausbuy stands for Australian made and owned products and said our labelling laws should be scrapped. "Our labels are so confusing and deceptive," she said.

"Made in Australia under labelling laws means that just 51 per cent of the wholesale cost of the goods are in that product, that may mean just the tin and the label, that doesn't necessarily mean the food in the tin."

Download the IGA Free Guide to Australian Products here (3.5Mb)

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Disaster relief in Haiti

In response to the huge disaster in Haiti, Ritchies will be sending an immediate donation of $50,000 to the Haiti Earthquake Response Fund set up by Oxfam Australia.

Oxfam has its emergency response team for Latin America based in Haiti so they are well prepared, with a public health, water and sanitation team in Port-au-Prince ready to respond. They also have emergency supplies in Panama that they are preparing to send in as soon as possible.

You can also help. All you need to do is sign up for a new Community Benefit card nominating the Haiti Earthquake Response Fund. The CB number is the same as the Ritchies Emergency Relief Fund as follows:

VICTORIA: 90286      NSW: 81342      QLD: 81326

Scan this card at the checkout and Ritchies will donate a further 0.5% of your total shop at any Ritchies Supermarket or Liquor store.

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Ritchies Supermarkets and Bertocchi Smallgoods

In recent years Ritchies Supermarkets and Bertocchi Smallgoods have supported the work of The Salvation Army's drought and bushfire relief services. More than $24,000 has been raised which has directly supported the work of the Salvos in rural and farming communities that have suffered greatly due to drought, and more recently in Victorian communities affected by the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.

Each year during the month of October, Bertocchi Smallgoods donates 10 cents from every kilogram of Bertocchi products purchased through a Ritchies Supermarket Delicatessen directly to The Salvation Army. In 2010, the funds raised through this initiative will be donated to The Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal. Donations made to the Red Shield Appeal ensure that The Salvation Army can continue to care for the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in our community.

Each year The Salvation Army assists more than one million Australians – that's one person every 30 seconds! The Salvos currently operate over 600 social welfare programs nationally, each one specifically designed to meet community needs. It focuses on areas of greatest stress, including families facing crisis, unemployment, homelessness, domestic violence, disaster relief and drug, alcohol and gambling addiction.

In a typical week, across Australia, The Salvation Army provides more than 100,000 meals for the hungry, 2,000 beds for the homeless, 5,000 to 8,000 food vouchers, 1,000 people with assistance in finding employment, refuge to 500 victims of abuse and assists more than 500 people addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling to overcome their addiction. Thousands of Australians in need turn to the Salvos for help.

By purchasing Bertocchi Smallgoods during the month of October you can help support the vital work of The Salvation Army.

For more information about The Salvation Army visit www.salvationarmy.org.au

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Arnott's Biscuits and Ritchies – Making Smiles Happen!

Ritchies Supermarkets and Arnott’s Biscuits came together in October to help raise funds for Camp Quality, a non profit organisation that is committed to bringing hope & happiness to every child living with cancer, their families & communities through ongoing quality recreational, educational, hospital & financial support programs.  Most importantly these programs bring them fun & happiness, as “Laughter really is the Best Medicine”.

For the entire month of October 2009, five cents from every packet of Arnott’s Biscuits purchase from Ritchies Supermarkets was donated to Camp Quality resulting in a donation of $21,313.95.

You can also nominate Camp Quality to be the recipient of a donation through Ritchies Community Benefit Program.

Their CB number is 93205.

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Ritchies is on Facebook

Come and check out Ritchies Community Benefit Card page on Facebook. As the page evolves fans will receive donation updates, exclusive deals available to fans only, promotions and much more.

Clubs/Schools/Charities – you can promote your upcoming fund raising event on our page so be sure to encourage your friends, family and supporters to become a fan of the Ritchies Community Benefit Card page.

Ritchies Community Benefit Card on 

Ritchies Stores are proud to announce that we won the “Excellence in Community Practices” Award at the prestigious BRW ANZ Private Business Awards held in Sydney on Wednesday 26th August 2009.

BRW and ANZ Corporate Banking joined together for the second year to recognise the country’s most outstanding private businesses. The BRW ANZ Private Business Awards celebrate the significant contribution private businesses make to the Australian economy. The Awards are open to private companies operating in Australia. Nominated companies have a minimum annual turnover of $15 million or 50 or more employees.

“The BRW ANZ Private Business Awards celebrate the success of some of Australia’s highly capable private businesses, the cornerstone of the economy, but receive little attention. These awards aim to highlight the entrepreneurialism, management and strategies of the best private companies in the country” said Sean Aylmer, BRW Editor in chief.

This is our second award in 2009, coming hard on the heels of the Victoria Day Award in July - great recognition of Ritchies commitment to our Community Benefit Program and our local community.

PRESS RELEASE

Award to be presented at the Melbourne Town Hall at 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 1st July, 2009

RITCHIES SUPERMARKETS
In 1870, when Thomas Ritchie opened a grocery store in the tiny country settlement of Frankston, he did so intent on three things – keeping his shop competitive, rewarding staff and donating part of his profit back to the community. Now 150 years on, Ritchies is Australia’s largest independent supermarket and liquor chain, a company in which many staff has shares and the founder’s “shilling for every pound” offer has grown into the Community Benefit Card program.  Ritchies currently donate many millions of dollars each year to the clubs, kindergartens, schools and charities nominated by shoppers. In the last sixteen years alone $30 million has been given back to the community.

On Black Saturday 7th February 2009, Ritchies were conducting their official launch of their Yarra Glen Supermarket. Fred Harrison, CEO and Malcolm Cameron, Director, Ritchies Stores were on hand at Yarra Glen and, as the tragic events unfolded, they were very much involved with the bushfire evacuation which took place in the Yarra Glen/Kinglake region.

Ritchies threw open their new Supermarket for use as a safety house and throughout the course of the evening over 500 people and pets took refuge. Lining the aisles were the sick, the old and the very young including a five week old. Fred Harrison was directing his staff and no expense was spared in providing the essentials to those gathered. Bottled water, soft drinks, food and anything required was handed out freely. Fire fighters and police headed there for respite from the horrific conditions. Fred accommodated everyone, making announcements over the public address system and answering everyone’s questions. His quick thinking and obvious leadership skills helped countless people.

Through their Community Benefit card program, Ritchies have donated about $240,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and bushfire-recovery programs with customers and staff raising $99,000 of this in the months of February and March. This contribution will continue to grow in the months ahead as many new and existing Community Benefit card holders have elected the Bushfire Appeal as their charity.

Ritchies Community Benefit Card Program donates a percentage of the money spent by customers to their nominated club, school or charity. Ritchies have been at the forefront in establishing this incredible program and as a result, many hundreds of thousands of lives have been improved.

NOTE: The Victoria Day Awards celebrate Victoria’s foundation at the separation from New South Wales on July 1st, 1851.

Norman Kennedy
Chair, Victoria Day Council
Mobile:  0419 379 540
Email: norman.kennedy@gmail.com

By the year 2000, the average supermarket trolley contained groceries that were 85% foreign owned or made. Independent retailers are now fighting back! Many of Australia's largest independent grocery retailers have got together to promote Aussie owned brands on their shelves via Fight Back's "shelf talker" program.

This initiative will give consumers the choice of supporting Australian made & owned brands. Aussie manufacturers have fought against multi-nationals with large marketing budgets for decades. Imports of low priced products from developing countries have destroyed the industry, and reduced food manufacturing exports by nearly one third. Buy Australian made and owned products and support our manufacturers first... they are part of the fabric of the Australian way of life, and they support our local communities, and sporting teams. The Fight Back Shelf Talker Program makes buying 'Australian made and owned’ products easier!

When you see one of these "Shelf Talkers" in front of a product in your friendly, local IGA supermarket, you are assured that the store continues to range your favourite Aussie Owned brands, and the supermarket is also Australian Owned. Support Aussie farmers, and fruit and vegetable growers, Australian Owned grocery brands, and your locally owned IGA supermarket. Simply support your favourite 'Aussie Owned, or Grown products.' Look for the Fight Back Shelf Talkers instore!

Visit Fightback for Australia for more information.

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