Wrigley Exeter-minates local litter for Magdalen Road
Local retailer Clive Sheppard of Exeter has this week been crowned the winner of a national competition, launched by Wrigley in August this year, to find a convenience store retailer most worthy of a ‘Trash Team’ visit.
As well as winning £500 worth of free stock, Clive’s prize saw Wrigley’s ‘Trash Team’ of devoted litter pickers descend on his Magdalen Road Spar store on Tuesday 4th December to clean up his local area.
From litter picking outside his shop front to making sure the surrounding area looks spic and span, the ‘Trash Team’ included staff from the local Wrigley Plymouth factory, Lord Mayor Rob Newby, local councillor Norman Shiel, The Maynard School’s ‘Green Team’ of pupils, plus key members of Keep Britain Tidy, Convenience Store magazine and Spar.
Earlier this year, Clive entered a national search for retailers wanting to put the sparkle back in their street and the pride back in their parade. In association with trade magazine Convenience Store and environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, he was one of the many retailers who entered by writing in to the magazine with reasons why his store deserved to win. After lots of deliberation, local shop keeper Clive Sheppard was selected as the winner - impressing the judges with his community spirit.
Winner Clive Sheppard comments, “Despite our best efforts, we face a daily challenge to keep our local area tidy. We’re located on a busy thoroughfare, with student accommodation a short distance away, and regrettably littering will always represent a challenge. As one of the longest standing stores on the Magdelen village parade, we can’t wait to get the ‘Trash Team’ treatment; it’ll certainly be a day to remember.”
Louisa Rowntree, Wrigley corporate affairs manager, adds, “Wrigley is a founding partner of the Love Where You Live campaign, which is why we launched this competition – to get more people involved in its crusade for a cleaner, greener Britain. As well as a successful cleanup operation, we really hope our ‘Trash Team’ visit encouraged Clive’s local community to maintain a clean and tidy Magdelen Road for years to come.”
Phil Barton, Keep Britain Tidy chief executive, concludes, “It’s great to see retailers across the country embracing the Love Where You Live initiative. It’s a sad fact that some items end up as litter on our streets so, just like our lucky winner Clive, we’re calling on all store owners to encourage their customers to put used crisp packets, sweet wrappers and drink cans in the bin – it’s time to make England a sight for sore eyes, not an eyesore!”
