The Publication For The Grocery Trade

'Chocolate Mike' runs for Monkeys

Mike Batten, founder of Venture Foods and producer of the Organica chocolate range, has signed himself up to the Great North Run as part of the Monkey Sanctuary Trust's team. Mike knows the Trust from his partnership with them in which his Swiss Dairy Milk Chocolate and Swiss Dairy White Chocolate bars are being sold to help raise much needed funds for the Cornwall-based charity. The Trust has entered the Great North Run for the last few years with the money raised on these occasions forming a significant part of its annual fund raising efforts. The bars are selling nicely with 5% of proceeds going straight to the Monkey Sanctuary. They are part of the eleven-strong 100g Organica organic and fairly traded range. Its swift development in just 14 months has led to some in the trade dubbing him 'Chocolate Mike.' Mike is no stranger to running and used to clock up forty five miles a week not so long ago. He's been out of training for a while so has had to make a concerted effort to get his running legs back ready for the run on September 30th. "I used to run a fair bit but have to admit it's been tough getting back into my stride. I'm coming on fine now, really enjoying the running practice and looking forward to joining the Monkey Sanctuary Trust team to help them raise these essential funds," he says. "I'm pleased to do my bit for this very deserving charity." The Monkey Sanctuary Trust is a registered charity based at Looe in Cornwall that has been rescuing primates from the UK pet trade for over 40 years. The Trust strives to provide the primates in its care with an enriched and stimulating environment whilst not treating them as "pets" - they are encouraged to develop their natural skills and learn to socialise with other monkeys, not with humans. As well as running an interactive education programme, the Trust continues to campaign to end the primate pet trade in the UK and works closely with other organisations to support conservation and rehabilitation projects overseas, aimed at keeping monkeys living free and wild in their forest homes. To support Mike and The Monkey Sanctuary, visit www.monkeysanctuary.org and follow the Great North Run link or call 01743 289133.