Retail & Celebrity Charity News Week of November 24

Sam’s Club Launches Fair Trade Wine

Warehouse retail chain Sam’s Club launched its first Fair Trade Certified wine, one of a small number of wines to receive recognition during the inaugural year of the Fair Trade Wine certification program in the U.S.  Neu Direction is a 100% Malbec from the Lujan de Cuyo winegrowing region near Mendoza, Argentina, and will sell for approximately $10 a bottle in the 450 Sam’s Club locations authorized to sell wine.  Sam’s Club also offers Fair Trade Certified coffee at locations chain-wide, Certified bananas, black tea and sugar are available at some locations, and Certified roses are available online.

 

Dunkin’ Donuts Opens First China Location

Coffee and baked goods chain Dunkin’ Donuts opened its first shop in Shanghai, China, and announced agreements to open 150 additional locations in Mainland China over the next 10 years.  The Shanghai store will offer the complete menu of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and baked goods, as well as goods customized to suit local taste preferences, including green tea donuts, mochi rings, and iced fruit teas. To date, the company has over 1,800 stores in the Asia Pacific region, including 550 in Korea, 260 in Indonesia, and 600 in the Philippines.

 

PepsiCo Earmarks Up To $3B To Sustainable Growth

PepsiCo businesses and brands will invest up to US$3 billon dollars in Mexico over the next several years to enable growth of its Sabritas and Gamesa food businesses and its portfolio of beverage brands.  Sabritas, the number two brand across industries in Mexico, recently earned third place in the social corporate responsibility category of a study conducted by Millward Brown and HSM because of its Desempeno con Sentido (“Performance with Purpose”) sustainability strategy.

 

Debra Messing Designs Jewelry For YouthAIDS

Actress Debra Messing is collaborating with designer Robert Lee Morris to create a gold pendant for Leaves of Change, a campaign by Jewelers for Children, the jewelry industry charity that invests in programs benefiting children affected by illness, abuse or neglect.  Celebrities participating in the campaign will design a gold pendant incorporating a leaf motif, and profits for the sale of the pendants will either benefit Jewelers for Children or a charity of their choice.  Messing is the first confirmed celebrity to take part in the initiative, and the profits from the sale of her design will benefit YouthAIDS. 

 

M.I.A. to Build School in Liberia

Musician M.I.A. has announced plans to open a school in Liberia, kick starting the project with a $100,000 donation on her own, after recently visiting the country with humanitarian-based television program 4Real. 4Real features celebrities, including actresses Cameron Diaz and Eva Mendes, as they connect with young leaders worldwide who are overcoming obstacles to enact positive change and address pressing issues.  As plans for the school take shape, M.I.A. is asking for help with books, suggestions for making the school eco-friendly, offers to establish exchange programs.