'We are so grateful to all the people over all those years': Family-run Northern Ireland food firm marks 75 years with 700-staff 'Walking the World'
Lynas Foodservice has challenged its 700 employees across Ireland and Scotland to collectively walk 24,901 miles in aid of four search and rescue charities
A Northern Ireland food company is marking its 75th anniversary by challenging its 700-strong workforce to collectively walk the equivalent of the Earth's circumference in support of charity.
Coleraine-based Lynas Foodservice has launched its 'Walk the World' challenge, encouraging employees across its operations in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland to cover a combined 24,901 miles – the distance around the globe.
The fundraising six-week initiative, which started on Monday, July 20 and runs until August 30, will support four search and rescue organisations: Community Rescue Service Western District, Borders Water Rescue Team, Scottish Mountain Rescue and Mountain Rescue Ireland.
Founded in 1951 as a small family-run fish business on Brook Street in Coleraine, Lynas Foodservice has grown into the largest family-owned foodservice distributor on the island of Ireland. Today, the business serves thousands of customers through its wholesale operation, 11 Lynas Food Outlets and a portfolio of own brands including Causeway Prime Butchery, Keenan Seafood and First 4 Fruit.
Announcing the anniversary initiative, managing director Andrew Lynas reflected on the company's journey over the past three generations.
He explained; “We are really excited to be celebrating our 75th anniversary here in Lynas Foodservice. I’m sure my grandfather Bobby Lynas could not believe that we are 75 years old. We are so grateful to all the people over all those years who have helped us in that journey.
"As we started from a simple fish shop up on Brook Street in Coleraine to what we are today.
"So from Bobby, my father Norman and myself, three generations of Lynas we want to do something exciting and we want to celebrate. So as a company we are going to do a huge charity event – we are going to Walk the World.”
Teams from across the business are competing to climb the leaderboard, with prizes on offer, but organisers say the focus is firmly on raising money for charities whose volunteers provide vital rescue services across Ireland and Scotland.
The initiative is being coordinated by the Lynas Charity Committee, led by Alison Thompson, with donations being shared equally between the four chosen charities at the end of the campaign.
The business has also thanked suppliers and partners who have supported the challenge through charitable contributions and prize donations.