For the fourth consecutive year, the Italian retail operator has donated proceeds from its citrus sales in support of AIRC’s continued efforts to tackle the disease

Arance rosse per la ricerca Despar Italia

Retail group Spar Italy recently renewed its support for a project called Blood Oranges for Research, a campaign run by AIRC, the Italian Foundation for Cancer Research.

The project, now in its fourth year, supports efforts to tackle the disease, and aims to raise awareness of prevention methods and the value of good nutrition.

More than 10,000 retail outlets across Italy have taken part in the two-week campaign. This collaborative effort involved over 50 brands and is believed to support approximately 6,000 AIRC researchers in their quest to improve cancer treatments.

Known in the country as Despar Italia, the retailer’s reach is considerable, with six food distribution companies and hundreds of affiliated retailers under its umbrella brand.

Over a million 2.5kg net bags of oranges were reportedly distributed at 600 Spar, Eurospar, and Interspar stores this time, with Despar Italia donating 50 euro cents to the foundation for each bag purchased.