Waitrose, the food shops of the John Lewis Partnership, is set to make Chimps’ tea parties a more classy affair.
Pampered Primates and friends at the Welsh Mountain Zoo will soon be tucking into fruit and veg that’s past its best from Waitrose in Menai Bridge.
The Zoo will collect waste produce from its local Waitrose store twice a week, and will be feeding a range of exotic animals such as Chimpanzees, Lar Gibbons ,Spider Monkeys, European Brown Bears and Camels to Macaws, Rabbits, Porcupines and Ostriches.*
The animal fare is set to include fruits such as grapes, figs, papaya and kiwi.
Waitrose Menai Bridge Manager, Gareth Hind, comments, “It’s the first initiative of its kind at Waitrose, and one that we are delighted to support. The Welsh Mountain Zoo has a fantastic education and conservation programme to help visitors understand the importance of the wonderful animals that they look after, and hopefully this support will mean that they will be able to extend their work.
“The lion’s share of Waitrose food waste goes to anaerobic digestion plants where its converted into reusable energy. However, this local initiative is a great way to complement our programme of reducing food waste whilst helping our local zoo.”
Chris Jackson, Welsh Mountain Zoo Administrative Director, says, "The food produce donated by Waitrose will make a significant contribution to the upkeep of the wonderful animals in our care, many of which are part of co-ordinated conservation breeding programmes. We are very grateful to Waitrose for this practical support for our charitable objectives."
Notes to Editors:
* Full list of animals to benefit from the Waitrose programme:
• European Brown Bears, Chimpanzees, Lar Gibbons, Spider Monkeys, Macaws, Camels, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs & Goats, Porcupines, Emus, Rheas & Ostriches and Przewalski Wild Horses
About Waitrose
Waitrose is continually looking at ways of reducing its impact on the environment and since 2007, 100% of our energy has been derived from green sources. Waitrose buys green energy from EDF and purchases energy derived from hydroelectric generation, biomass, landfill gas, energy from waste, certified combined heat and power (CHP) plants, and wind farms.
Further Waitrose renewable energy initiatives include a biofuel-powered generator at Waitrose Wimborne, wind turbines at our farm on the Leckford Estate in Hampshire, and the use of anaerobic digestion of food waste in 100 of our shops. We are actively pursuing the possibility of further site-based energy production from fully renewable sources.
Further Waitrose renewable energy initiatives include a biofuel-powered generator at Waitrose Wimborne, wind turbines at our farm on the Leckford Estate in Hampshire, and the use of anaerobic digestion of food waste in 100 of our shops. We are actively pursuing the possibility of further site-based energy production from fully renewable sources.
About Welsh Mountain Zoo
Opened in 1963, the Welsh Mountain Zoo was recognised in 2008 as the National Zoo of Wales. In the trusteeship of the National Zoological Society of Wales the Welsh Mountain Zoo are making an increasingly important contribution to the conservation work of zoos nationally and world-wide.
The Vision: A world where animals and their habitats are appreciated, understood and conserved.
The Mission: Through its work at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, and elsewhere, the Society seeks to -
- enhance appreciation and understanding of the earth’s natural heritage through public education and recreation, and the advancement of biological study
- support the maintenance of the earth’s biological diversity through participation in conservation breeding programmes, and assistance for conservation in the wild.
- pursue the above objectives and activities globally, regionally and with special emphasis on the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in Wales and its surrounding seas.
For more information contact: