Natco Foods Donates 100% of Profits to Charity Natco Foods is committed to donating 100% of its profits to charity. As a result of that commitment over £5m has be donated to date. Natco manufactures and distributes spices, nuts, lentils and other natural foods and South Asian ingredients across the UK under its own brand.
Natco is a privately owned family business and when the third generation took the helm 10 years ago siblings Luke, Danny and Natasha Pagarani made a conscious undertaking. They determined when they returned the business to profitability then all profits should be used for philanthropic projects rather than dividends for shareholders.
Most of the donations are made through the Human Capability Foundation, which Luke, Danny and Natasha run as volunteers. The foundation makes grants directly to small community-based organisations in India working on issues such as gender equality, girls’ education, health and livelihoods. There is a strong focus on the rights of marginalised groups, including poverty, mental health and disability.
Managing Director, Luke Pagarani said, “We travel regularly to remote areas of India, since as well as sourcing many of our ingredients there, we get our inspiration and sense of mission from the brave people we meet mobilising communities to struggle for freedom, solidarity and equality in difficult circumstances.
For example, on our last trip we visited our project with Jeevika in rural West Bengal, which involves teaching landless women to grow organic vegetables on tiny scraps of waste land to combat malnutrition, while at the same time helping them to organise mutual support groups to combat domestic violence and alcoholism.”
Until now few Natco consumers have been aware of the company’s charitable achievements as their activities are not endorsed on current packaging or advertising. Natco felt more secure relying on its reputation for quality ingredients. Interestingly, Natco has found that their staff are highly motivated by the charitable aims and they want to see it revealed to customers.
Natco’s directors are considering talking more publicly and are seeking to hear the views from their customers about the company’s philanthropic mission. The Natco team is keen to grow the business so that they can expand their philanthropic footprint into areas of great need in India’s neighbours – Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
