‘We want to do all we can to alleviate these pressures and help small businesses to get back up and running as quickly as possible’

Dairy-free brand Alpro has launched a support package, which includes free stock worth £125,000 and an additional £200,000 of financial aid to independent coffee shops impacted by the coronavirus lockdown.

Successful applicants will be supplied a case of each of the brands 4 products from its full Barista For Professional range at zero cost.

The range includes Alpro Oat Barista For Professionals, Alpro Almond Barista For Professionals, Alpro Soya Barista For Professionals, Alpro Coconut Barista For Professionals.

‘Get back up and running’

“Our independent coffee shops are facing unprecedented uncertainty right now as a result of Covid-19, and many are dealing with significant financial challenges,” David Jiscoot, Marketing Director at Alpro UK & Ireland said.

“We want to do all we can to alleviate these pressures once we are through the other side of this, and we hope that setting up a free supply of our plant-based drinks range will take some of the pressure off cash flow – and help small businesses that are most in need to get back up and running as quickly as possible.”

Aspiring coffee shop owners can apply for the free stock initiative through the Alpro website, which will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

‘In It Together’

The plant milk brand has also launched the ‘In It Together’ fund  in an effort to offer immediate financial support to independent coffee shops struggling to get back up and running due to lack of business in the last few weeks.

Eligible café owners, which include outlets in the U.K., and small businesses not having more than 5 sites plus those going through financial difficulty can contact Alpro for assistance.

Alpro has launched the fund with an initial donation of £200,000, and is urging other suppliers within the coffee industry to come forward and help drive the initiative with more donations.

“We know that for a lot of coffee shops, getting through this period of lockdown will be incredibly difficult – but we want to give you all the support we can to make that possible,” reads the company’s website.

• Read: UK poll shows 1 in 5 Brits cut down on meat meals amid coronavirus pandemic

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