- The campaign is back until the 19th May 2026 across participating Co-op stores nationwide, with 25p donated to Special Olympics GB per qualifying meal deal
- Four athletes to feature throughout 2026, starting with triathlete Angus Leckonby, with Makaton-accessible in-store materials
Co-op, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) are bringing back Meals That Matter for 2026 – the national campaign that uses everyday retail moments to put athletes with intellectual disabilities in the spotlight and challenge how they are seen across the UK.
In 2025, the campaign championed SOGB with prominent in-store images of its athletes over 12 weeks, delivering clear results: over 350,000 meal deals sold across 2,400 Co-op stores and almost £80,000 raised for SOGB.
Now the campaign returns with its first burst of 2026, running until the 19th May in all Co-op stores nationwide. It builds momentum toward the 2026 National Summer Games – the largest celebration of inclusive sport in Great Britain in almost a decade.
For every Co-op lunchtime meal deal purchased that includes a 500ml bottle or can of Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Diet Coke, 25p will be donated to Special Olympics GB. Meals That Matter is designed not just to raise funds, but to change perceptions – by putting athletes with intellectual disabilities into everyday retail environments where millions of people encounter them as role models.
Fronting the spring campaign is Angus Leckonby, whose images will appear on in-store materials across participating Co-op stores. A triathlete and swimmer from East Yorkshire, Angus represents a new generation of Special Olympics GB athletes being recognised not just for participation, but for achievement, ambition and impact. He has competed nationally, qualifying for the GB Aquatics National Championships in 2024, and in 2025 set three Guinness World Records. He has also completed two London Marathons. His ambition is to represent Special Olympics GB at a future World Summer Games.
Swimmer Taylor MacKenzie, gymnast Ellie-Bea Thomas and table tennis player and Co-op employee of 25 years, Alex Rae will feature in later bursts throughout 2026.
Holly Firmin, Senior Community Partnerships Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, said: “Meals That Matter is about bringing people together – whether through sport, work, or something as simple as picking up lunch. The core message remains simple: everyone wins when you choose to include.
“The response from Co-op shoppers last year was fantastic, and seeing the level of engagement with the campaign speaks for itself. Hearing directly from athletes about what this campaign means to them and their communities makes it even more worthwhile. It shows what’s possible when everyone is given the chance to thrive.”
Laura Baxter MBE, CEO at Special Olympics GB, said: “Meals That Matter is changing how people see and understand intellectual disability, not only through fundraising but by putting our athletes front and centre where they belong.
“When athletes are given a platform to be seen and heard, it has a powerful effect in challenging perceptions, building confidence and opening doors for more people with intellectual disabilities to step into sport and feel part of something bigger.”
Michael Williams, Senior Buying Manager at Co-op, said: “Meals That Matter really resonated with our members last year, bringing stories of inclusion to life in stores and communities across the UK. We saw strong engagement from shoppers, with over 350,000 meal deals sold and real interest in the athletes’ stories.
The campaign will be unmissable across Co-op stores nationwide, with in-store materials and digital touchpoints featuring Special Olympics GB athletes, including front-of-store displays, digital screens and shelf talkers across 113 stores. Makaton symbols are once again integrated into point-of-sale materials, ensuring the campaign is accessible to the more than 10,000 children and adults in the UK who use Makaton to communicate.
Special Olympics GB is a movement using sport to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities are seen, valued and taken seriously – supporting over 12,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across 27 sports, powered by grassroots clubs and volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales.
Coca-Cola has been a founding partner and global sponsor of Special Olympics since 1968, with this commitment extending to Special Olympics GB since its launch in 1978. Today, CCEP continues this legacy through volunteering, funding and programmes that champion inclusion both on and off the field.
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