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The objective of Business in the Community is to partner with businesses to ensure a sustainable future for local people and the environment. Its approach to responsible business provides a framework to support and challenge businesses to improve their performance and benefit society through the four CSR pillars; Workplace, Marketplace, Community and Environment. Coca-Cola HBC Ireland is a member of Business in the Community in both the north and south of Ireland.

Big Ticks are awarded to companies which can demonstrate the positive impacts of doing business responsibly. Coca-Cola HBC was first awarded the Healthy Communities Big Tick for its Be Active programme in 2008.

Speaking at the Gala Awards Ceremony at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Irish President, Mary McAleese said, "Since their inauguration in 2006, this gathering has become Northern Ireland's most influential and well-respected showcase of corporate responsibility… tonight's winners, along with all the others of past years have made responsible leadership their business in their businesses.

To each of them is owed a public and civic debt of gratitude and I hope these awards give them the confidence and passion to keep true to their vision for a world where people care about each other enough to get involved in making good things happen. Congratulations to you all.”

The award winning Coca-Cola Be Active programme encourages people from all around the island of Ireland to get active through community based sport and fitness initiatives.

John Coffey, IOI Sponsorship Manager said the re-accreditation is an endorsement of our Be Active programmes. “Last year we encouraged 106,000 people to get directly involved in sport and physical activity. Over the years, we have developed strong, long standing partnerships with 36 local and national sporting organisations, the longest of which stretches back 40 years. I believe that the strength and longevity of these partnerships has been critical to our success to date.”

Employees are also engaged in Be Active initiatives, with 128 employees across the island participating in active lifestyle programmes in 2009. The programme’s activities were communicated externally in over 680 positive media articles throughout the year, further enhancing the company’s reputation in the public domain.

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For more information, please contact:
Public Affairs and Communications Manager
Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland
Phone number: + 44 28 92 64 2000