SYDNEY: Cricket Australia announced on Friday a new partnership with the country’s popular chain of supermarkets and grocery stores, Woolworths which will see the company sponsoring the board’s latest junior pathways program called as Woolworths Cricket Blast, which will be launched in July. It will also be the Presenting Partner of the Mascot Challenge, which is a school program for Kindergarten to Year 2 students, Junior Cricket Formats, Regional Talent Academies and Male Underage Teams & Championships.
The deal comes at a time when Cricket Australia has been signalling their intent to invest more in grassroots development financially and with other resources. Woolworths will have a major role in supporting the supporting the next generation of Australian cricketers.
“We are delighted to have Woolworths on board as a partner across the Australian junior cricket pathway and to have them providing support from grassroots to elite levels of the game.”,CA CEO James Sutherland said on the partnership.
“With their focus on fresh food and the community as Australia’s Fresh Food People, this is the perfect partnership to help inspire budding cricketers as they start their journey with the game.
“We are confident that the Woolworths team, together with cricket’s 4,000 clubs and thousands of volunteers, will bring this partnership to life in a positive way, making it easier and fun for more kids to eat well, be active and play cricket.”
Woolworths Supermarkets managing director, Claire Peters commented on the development as well: “Every summer junior cricket is a vital part of many Aussie communities, with thousands of families heading to their local oval each week as kids build vital skills by taking part in one of the country’s most popular participation sports.
“Eating fresh and healthy food is also essential to the success of any junior cricket player and we are thrilled that Woolworths Cricket Blast will help continue our focus on supporting the next generation of fresh food kids.”
Besides grassroots development, Woolworths will be the Official Partner of the Australian Men’s cricket team and the Official Supplier of the KFC Big Bash League and rebel Women’s Big Bash Leagues respectively.
