M&S donations to Ukraine reaches £2.6m

Marks and Spencer head of partnerships Jo Daniels has announced that M&S’ total donations have reached £2.6 million after customers donated £1.1 million.

The retailer revealed over 30,000 customers had switched Unicef UK to their chosen Sparks charity, meaning every donation made in-store, online and via the app would be doubled by M&S.

The announcement comes as M&S revealed its plans to support Ukraine, which included an initial £500,000 to UNHCR – the UN’s refugee agency – and £500,000 worth of products to help urgently on the ground.

READ MORE: How are UK grocers supporting Ukraine refugees?

On top of this, the retailer launched till point and online giving to match an additional donation of £500,000.

However, earlier this week M&S was criticised for “not going far enough” with social media users demanded it close all its Russian branches and stop shipments as well as explain how the money “would be utilised”.

M&S has since issued a statement revealing it has suspended shipments to its Turkish franchise’s Russian business.

Daniels added that the first bath of UNICEF humanitarian supplies has now arrived in Lviv, in western Ukraine. The donation comes as part of a six-truck convoy containing around 62 tonnes of supplies on the way.

“The situation for families in Ukraine is increasingly desperate and these supplies will provide much-needed support to health care workers, women and children,” UNICEF representative in Ukraine Murat Sahin said.

The update on M&S’ involvement in Ukraine support comes as CEO Steve Rowe revealed he would step down and that managing director of M&S Food, Stuart Machin, will become CEO from 25 May.

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