Celebrities Dermot O’Leary and Dan Stevens show their support for UK Coffee Week™,

March 14, 2011 - PRLog -- British TV, Radio 2 star and X Factor presenter, Dermot O’Leary and actor Dan Stevens, of ITV1 drama Downton Abbey fame, have thrown their support behind UK Coffee Week™ 2011.  

If you love coffee, then this is your week.  This exciting new national fundraising programme will raise money for Project Waterfall, a charitable initiative established by the Allegra Foundation to deliver clean water projects in coffee-producing African countries.
Thousands of coffee shops across the country are taking part in UK Coffee Week.  Coffee chains Caffè Nero, Costa Coffee, Esquires, M&S Café, Sacred and Starbucks have committed their involvement alongside many independent coffee shops including Afternoon Tease in Darlington, Bold Street Coffee in Liverpool, Redroaster Coffee in Brighton, London’s Allpress Espresso and Merito Coffee Stall.  Funds will be raised via a nationwide programme of collections in coffee shops, public events and media activities.  

Participating venues are encouraged to invite customers to add a voluntary 5p donation to purchases during UK Coffee Week.  

“UK Coffee Week provides an opportunity for each and every one of us to make a difference.  I’ll be showing my support by adding 5p to my coffee that week!" commented Dermot O’Leary

Dan Stevens is urging everyone to get involved during UK Coffee Week:
“As you sip your skinny latte extra-shot extra-hot during UK Coffee Week, spare a thought and 5p for the 1 in 8 people in the world without access to clean water.  Your 5p will help Project Waterfall to give one more person clean drinking water for a day."

The first project will provide clean water to up to 7,000 people in communities in the Mbulu District of Tanzania in partnership with WaterAid.  To find out more about the programme and to get involved, visit www.ukcoffeeweek.com and follow @UKCoffeeWeek on twitter alongside Dan!  

100% of consumer donations will go directly to support Project Waterfall.
It only takes 5p to make a difference!

For further information visit www.ukcoffeeweek.com or contact Anya Gascione Marco on 020 7691 8843 or agascoine@allegra.co.uk or Kathryn Lennon on 020 7691 8816 or klennon@allegra.co.uk


Notes to Editor

UK Coffee Week 4-10 April 2011

UK Coffee Week provides a unique opportunity for branded coffee chains, independent coffee shops and industry suppliers to collaborate and celebrate the success of the industry while giving back to an extremely worthy cause.  A nationwide programme of charitable collections, in-store activities and public events will raise funds for Project Waterfall to deliver clean water projects in coffee-producing African countries.  Participating venues are encouraged to invite customers to add a voluntary 5p donation to purchases for the duration of the week.  

To find out more and keep up to date with the latest programme sign-ups and events, visit www.ukcoffeeweek.com, @UKCoffeeWeek and www.facebook.com/UKCoffeeWeek.
Alpro Soya is proud to be the Premium Supporter of UK Coffee Week.

The Allegra Foundation and Project Waterfall
The Allegra Foundation is a registered charity (No. 1133540) established by the Allegra Group to support sustainable development projects in coffee-growing countries.  Project Waterfall is the central focus for fundraising and aims to deliver clean water projects in African coffee-producing countries.  100% of all funds raised from consumer donations will directly benefit this cause.  The first project will provide clean water to communities in the Mbulu District of Tanzania in partnership with WaterAid.

The London Coffee Festival 8-10 April 2011
The London Coffee Festival is proud to be the flagship event of UK Coffee Week 2011.  The festival will be held at The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, from 8-10 April 2011.  Opening hours:   
Friday 8 April
Trade Day                        10:00am-5:00pm  
Public Launch    5:00pm-10:00pm including Espresso Martini Party from 7:30pm.
Saturday 9 April and Sunday 10 April
3 sessions will be held each day:
Brunch       10:00am-1:00pm
Lunch       1:00pm-4:00pm
Teatime                          4:00pm-7:00pm.

100% of all ticket sales will go directly to support Project Waterfall.

Tickets are available now at www.londoncoffeefestival.com for £8.50.  Follow The London Coffee Festival on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheLondonCoffeeFestival and twitter @LdnCoffeeFest for exclusive ticket promotions and discounts.

About WaterAid
WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation.  The international organisation works in 26 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific region to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in some of the world’s poorest communities.  Over the past 30 years, WaterAid has reached 14.38 million people with safe water and, since 2004, 9.4 million people with sanitation.  For more information, visit www.wateraid.org, follow @wateraid on twitter or facebook at www.facebook.com/wateraid  

About Alpro Soya
Alpro Soya are proud sponsors of the first ever UK Coffee Week.  In association with Caffè Nero they are pledging to donate an additional 5p to the clean water initiative Project Waterfall, for every soya beverage purchased in Caffè Nero between 4 – 10 April 2011.  

Their new soya milk, exclusively created for baristas is perfect for use in Alproccinos and Alprolattes.  Along with a creamier taste, the “For Professionals” pack also contains higher levels of protein, known to enhance workability for the barista.  Naturally low in saturated fat, free from artificial colours, preservatives and sweeteners and crammed full of plant goodness Alpro soya milks are not only great in coffee, but are good for you too.  For more information about Alpro Soya please visit www.alprosoya.co.uk.

Images available on request.

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About Allegra Strategies
London-based management consultancy Allegra Strategies publishes the most comprehensive research conducted on the European and UK branded coffee shop market: Project Café UK and Project Café Europe.

With 12 years of research experience in the European branded coffee shop market, Allegra Strategies is recognised as the thought leader and the most trusted source of information in the industry.

The Allegra Foundation and Project Waterfall
The Allegra Foundation is a registered charity (No. 1133540) established by the Allegra Group to support sustainable development projects in coffee-growing countries. Project Waterfall is the central focus for fundraising and aims to deliver clean water projects in African coffee-producing countries. 100% of all funds raised from consumer donations will directly benefit this cause. The first project will provide clean water to communities in the Mbulu District of Tanzania in partnership with WaterAid.