New World sausage sizzle raises more than $40,000 for Starship

A nationwide sausage sizzle put on by New World supermarkets around the country has raised more than $40,000 for New Zealand’s national children’s hospital, Starship Child Health.

On Saturday, 2 September, staff at over 130 stores fired up their barbecues, donned aprons and tongs, and cooked sausages for shoppers to enjoy, in exchange for a gold coin donation.

New World has been a 5-Star Partner of the Starship Foundation since 2014, and this was the first nationwide sausage sizzle put on to raise funds for the hospital.

Two weeks later and with nearly all the donations now in the bank, the final tally is almost $43,000.

Steve Anderson, Managing Director, Foodstuffs NZ Ltd, says the initiative has been an obvious success.

“For us to be able to send all that money to Starship makes me very proud.” says Mr Anderson. “Any amount helps but that $43,000 will go a long way towards assisting the work they do.”

“That total means the average amount raised per store was around $340 – a brilliant effort when you consider each sausage sold for just one or two dollars.”

“Money aside, though, what the sausage sizzle showed was our stores and staff are willing to make an effort for a good cause, often in bad weather, and shoppers recognise that dedication.”

Mr Anderson says it’s likely New World’s nationwide sausage sizzle will be repeated next year, on top of New World’s other support for the Starship Foundation.

“Each week we deliver fruit boxes to every ward at the hospital. We’re also funding Starship’s National Feeding Clinic, which helps children with various eating difficulties to find a love of food”

“As a business with a nationwide presence, and a strong community focus, we recognise the superb work Starship does caring for sick children from around the country,” Mr Anderson concludes.

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