The Ospreys have teamed up with Wales’ leading independent food retailer, agreeing a commercial deal that will see CK Foodstores logo featuring on the shorts of the away strip this season.
Operating out of their Llanelli HQ, CK invested into the Ospreys last season, with a sponsorship deal that saw their logo placed on the match day shorts of both centres throughout the season.
In addition, they were the headline sponsors for the first ever TAGMania event earlier this summer, where community clubs from the length and breadth of Ospreylia came together for an afternoon of tag rugby at the Liberty Stadium.
Now, thanks to this exciting new partnership, CK are the latest Welsh business to sign up and show their support for the Ospreys ahead of the new season, and will see their distinctive logo carried on the back of the region’s white away shorts during the 2015/16 season.
Alun Littlejohns General Manager of CK Foodstores, said:
“Having teamed up with the region in 2014/15, CK are delighted to be right behind the Ospreys once again, on all their behinds as it happens.
“Having a logo on the backside of the Ospreys shorts may have put off some sponsors” joked Alun “but here at CK we like the idea of getting right behind the boys and there's nothing better than seeing your logo on the shorts as a player dives over to score a try, is there?"
Yarnie Guthrie, Ospreys Rugby Commercial Manager, added:
“It’s fantastic news that such an influential local business that has a strong presence in the community is committed to supporting the Ospreys.
“Since coming on board, CK have shown a real desire to not just be a sponsor, but to be a commercial partner and the relationship has rapidly accelerated to this point, with them coming onto the full match day strip.
“With the support of organisations such as CK, we can continue to go from strength to strength, on and off the field, in 2015/16.”
CK Foodstores is now the largest independent food retailer in Wales, with over 14 food stores, and two new petrol forecourt operations in the Ospreys region alone.
Despite their expansion, CK still maintain strong community links as they did when established by Managing Director, Christopher Kiley in the mid 1980’s, with Post Offices, in-store bakeries and trained butchery units in stores right across West Wales.
The business now operates a range of consumer led outlets, from corner shop convenience stores in Swansea City centre, to larger out of town units further west, with all stores featuring scratch bakery and bespoke butchery counters as well as increasingly focusing on food produced locally by some the excellent producers within the region.
PICTURED ARE YARNIE GUTHRIE, COMMERCIAL MANAGER, OSPREYS RUGBY & ALUN LITTLEJOHNS, GENERAL MANAGER, CK FOODSTORES