Sweet Charity has announced that its Rowing Challenge has raised £20,000 to help support people from the UK

confectionery industry.

The event took place at the Pro-Retail Show last week and the charity said the challenge captured the imaginations of retailers and exhibitors alike – so much so that companies have asked if they can enter a team if the row-a-thon should happen again next year.

Sweet Charity director general Patrick Davis, along with 30 other representatives from a host of leading FMCG manufacturers, took part in the in-door rowing challenge on the Sweet Charity stand. Each rower took their turn in timed sessions, aiming between them to row 320,000 metres or 209 miles, the distance between Palmer & Harvey’s Head Office in Hove to the Telford Exhibition Centre.

Davis said: "The Rowing Challenge generated huge interest at Pro-Retail which gave us the opportunity to talk to visitors about the work Sweet Charity does and of course raise much needed funds. I am extremely grateful for those rowers that took part from Cadbury, Coca Cola, Kraft, Ferrero, Unilever, ACS, William Reed and Kelloggs and collectively I am pleased to announce that we smashed our target over the two days, reaching a grand total of 374,236 meters. Well done to all!"

Last year Sweet Charity helped over 1,500 people who are working in, or have worked in the manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of confectionery.