Villiera Wines awarded by Marks and Spencer – Partnership Award
Friday, November 15th, 2013
Marks & Spencer (UK) held a Plan A conference in Stellenbosch on the 13th November 2013 for over 100 of their South African Food and Wine suppliers (M&S launched Plan A years back as a means of working with their customers and suppliers to combat climate change, reduce waste, use sustainable raw materials, trade ethically and to help lead their customers in achieving healthier lifestyles). The same efforts that Villiera Wines has tirelessly fought to achieve under the guidance of Simon Grier.
M&S recognise that many of their farmers and growers are taking great steps to improve the sustainability of their business. They are keen to recognise and promote this good practice throughout the supply chain. In recognition of this they handed out an Environment Award, a People Award and a Partnership Award.
Villiera Wines is proud to announce that they were awarded the M&S Partnership Award. This award is for an initiative which breaks down traditional barriers and brings several partners together to work towards a goal that delivers truly sustainable outcomes.
The main reason for this award is the OWETHU clinic (http://owethu.co.za/press-release) launched at Villiera Wines straight after the M&S conference. The doors have not opened and it has it’s first award!
OWETHU is a community clinic that will provide a comprehensive range of primary healthcare services to the farm workers and their children on Villiera Wines and surrounding farms.
Clinic staff will include: nursing sisters, medical doctors, dentists, oral hygienists, therapists and oncology specialists.
This is a ground-breaking project, the first of its kind in Africa.
The partners in this project are The Pebbles Project (http://www.pebblesproject.co.za/), who have the task of running the clinic, and theCipla Foundation (the social enterprise division of Cipla Medpro) run by David Grier, without whom none of this would have happened.