As the official food sponsor of the 2025 Cape Town Marathon, Woolworths had prepared to fuel 24 000 runners with fresh produce and snacks at several points along the route — including the halfway mark and the finish line.
But when the marathon’s cancellation was announced at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, the Woolworths team quickly shifted gears to make sure none of the food went to waste. By 10 a.m., all the supplies had been collected by 18 charities for distribution to those in need.
In total, Woolworths had organised 26 000 bananas, 20 000 Clemengolds, 280 kg of potatoes, 10 kg of dried fruit, 5 000 apples, 4 800 dates, 1 800 sandwiches and 600 hot cross buns — all of the same Exceptional Quality customers expect from any Woolworths store.
Instead of refuelling runners, the nutritious food ended up nourishing communities across Cape Town — ensuring that every item found a home and nothing went to waste.
Woolworths Chief Customer Officer and keen runner, Spencer Sonn, said:
“I had planned to be at the Woolies nutrition point at the halfway mark to support the athletes, especially our many Woolies employees who were running this year. Naturally, I was disappointed to hear about the cancellation — I know how much effort and dedication each runner put in. The silver lining is that orphanages, old-age homes and soup kitchens across Cape Town could benefit from the wholesome food. That’s truly the Woolworths Difference in action!”
Woolworths’ commitment to sustainability and community upliftment forms part of its Good Business Journey. In the past year alone, the retailer donated over 800 000 kg of surplus food to South African charities — a clear reflection of its ongoing mission to be one of the world’s most responsible retailers.
But when the marathon’s cancellation was announced at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, the Woolworths team quickly shifted gears to make sure none of the food went to waste. By 10 a.m., all the supplies had been collected by 18 charities for distribution to those in need.
In total, Woolworths had organised 26 000 bananas, 20 000 Clemengolds, 280 kg of potatoes, 10 kg of dried fruit, 5 000 apples, 4 800 dates, 1 800 sandwiches and 600 hot cross buns — all of the same Exceptional Quality customers expect from any Woolworths store.
Instead of refuelling runners, the nutritious food ended up nourishing communities across Cape Town — ensuring that every item found a home and nothing went to waste.
Woolworths Chief Customer Officer and keen runner, Spencer Sonn, said:
“I had planned to be at the Woolies nutrition point at the halfway mark to support the athletes, especially our many Woolies employees who were running this year. Naturally, I was disappointed to hear about the cancellation — I know how much effort and dedication each runner put in. The silver lining is that orphanages, old-age homes and soup kitchens across Cape Town could benefit from the wholesome food. That’s truly the Woolworths Difference in action!”
Woolworths’ commitment to sustainability and community upliftment forms part of its Good Business Journey. In the past year alone, the retailer donated over 800 000 kg of surplus food to South African charities — a clear reflection of its ongoing mission to be one of the world’s most responsible retailers.
