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R I T C H I E S N E W S

Starlight Children's Foundation

Starlight Day, running throughout the month of May is the largest national fundraising event of the year, with the major activities occurring on May 4th.

This year Starlight hopes to raise $2 million to help transform the hospital experience for seriously ill children from pain, fear and boredom to fun, joy and laughter.

For more information about Starlight visit www.starlight.org.au or call 1300 727 827.

Scouts Australia, Ritchies and Nestle

Once again the partnership between Scouts Australia, Nestle and Ritchies has resulted in a fantastic donation of $31,397.05 from the sale of Nestle products during the month of March.

Colgate/Palmolive and Ritchies support the Bionics Institute

Colgate Promotion

The Bionics Institute is an Australian non-profit research organisation that leads the ongoing development of the bionic ear which 250,000 people world-wide use to enjoy the sense of hearing. We are now working on the bionic eye and devices to treat Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, obsessive compulsive disorder and others, but we need your help. Purchase a Colgate-Palmolive product from Ritchies Supa IGA in April and 10c from each sale will go to supporting Australian research that changes the world. Read more about the Bionics Institute here.

Congratulations Ritchies! You are a Star!

Star Zone

The Star Zone Walk of Fame Local Legends honors local residents who have made a significant contribution to our local community that deserves recognition. This program not only celebrates the outstanding achievements of local volunteers and residents; it actively promotes future contribution, inspiring all generations to work to wards improving our community.

Ritchies has been awarded a ‘Star’ in recognition of more than $38 million donated to clubs, schools and charities nominated by our customers over the 18 years since Ritchies Community Benefit Program was introduced.
Penny Sayer, Ritchies Community Benefit Promotions Officer attended the unveiling ceremony and was very proud to accept the Star Zone Plaque on behalf of Ritchies.

$150,000 DONATED TO DISASTER APPEALS IN 2011

Ritchies Emergency Relief Fund keeps going even when the disaster is over, so there is no need to change your card over to something else. Ritchies Emergency Relief Fund was set up after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2004 and since then has donated over $750,000 to:

• SOUTH EAST ASIAN TSUNAMI APPEAL	• EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
• NSW BUSHFIRES	• FLOODS IN QLD
• VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES	• FLOODS IN VICTORIA
• CYCLONE LARRY	• CYCLONE YASI
• VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE APPEAL 2009

Funds are held in trust by the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation until such time as a disaster occurs and then the money is released to a charitable organization that is dealing with the disaster at a local level. If you would like to nominate Ritchies Emergency Relief Fund, simply fill out a form at your local store.

Ritchies immediately donated $50,000 from Ritchies Emergency Relief Fund to Queensland Flood Relief and a further donation of $50,000 for Victorian Flood Relief, plus $50,000 for the victims of Cyclone Yasi in Queensland.

Ritchies CEO, Fred Harrison said "There is going to be a massive clean up required and in reality this could take months and years. It is a tragedy where so many people have lost their lives and so many homes have been destroyed and our hearts go out to all those affected."

If you would like to help raise money for the greatest natural disaster to hit Australia, you can nominate Ritchies Emergency Relief Fund, which has donated over $600,000 for disaster relief since 2001.

Click here to view some incredible 'before and after' photos from the ABC News website.

CB Numbers: Queensland: 81326 NSW: 91451 Victoria: 90286.

Oxfam Cover

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...

'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)

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

Aussie Owned Brands Need Our Support!

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.