Palmer and Harvey raised more than £80,000 for welfare charity GroceryAid at its annual Burns Night at The Grand Hotel, Brighton.

The black-tie event was attended by around 230 of Palmer and Harvey’s suppliers and their guests including representatives from the event’s main sponsors Mars Chocolate, Mondelēz, JTI, Nestlé UK, Britvic and Coca-Cola Enterprises.

GroceryAid is the national charity that helps people across the whole of the grocery industry. The charity currently helps more than 8,500 grocery people either financially with grants and white goods or through the free 24/7 confidential Helpline and will spend more than £3.7m on welfare support this year. To find out more about GroceryAid and the difference it can make to the lives of grocery people, visit www.groceryaid.org.uk

Palmer and Harvey supports GroceryAid throughout the year with events and sponsorship and was awarded the charity’s Gold Achievement Award in 2014.

GroceryAid director general Gillian Barker said: “We are delighted that the Palmer and Harvey Burns Night was a success. It is only through events such as this that GroceryAid can continue to support grocery people who desperately need our help. Thank you, we couldn’t do it without you.”

Martyn Ward, managing director at Palmer and Harvey, said: “It is fantastic to know that our fundraising efforts with GroceryAid have been able to help former and current industry colleagues. I personally look forward to Burns Night every year and this year’s event has definitely been one to remember.”