Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland has announced a new three-year charity partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), set to run until December 2027.

The collaboration will see Coca-Cola provide significant donations and volunteer support to the lifesaving charity.

The RNLI operates a 24-hour search and rescue service at sea and on several inland waters, relying entirely on volunteers and donations to fund its operations. In Northern Ireland, this also includes a dedicated lifeguard service. Beyond rescue operations, the RNLI is actively involved in drowning prevention through educational visits, awareness campaigns, and promoting water safety within local communities.

Simon Fitzpatrick, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership. "The RNLI offer lifesaving services for people across the island of Ireland every day. We are thrilled to welcome them as our charity partner until 2027," he said. "As a business rooted in our local communities across the island of Ireland, we see the incredible work done by the RNLI, and how valuable they are as a community resource. We look forward to working with the RNLI through our charity and volunteering initiatives over the next several years to promote water safety and ensure true impact can be achieved," Fitzpatrick added.

Coca-Cola HBC, the strategic bottling partner for The Coca-Cola Company on the island of Ireland, has a history of supporting local communities, having operated in the region for over 85 years. Between 2022 and 2024, the company provided €118,107 in funding and product donations to various local charities.

Daniel Curren, RNLI Regional Engagement Lead, also welcomed the collaboration. "We are delighted to be working with Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland on this exciting three-year partnership," he stated. "This partnership is a wonderful opportunity to raise funds to support the work of our lifesavers, ensuring they have the best training and equipment to rescue those in trouble, while also sharing water safety advice and benefiting from the company’s volunteering programme."

Curren highlighted the shared community focus of both organisations. "Both the RNLI and Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland operate across the island of Ireland and have strong roots in local communities. Not only will this partnership raise much-needed funds for the charity, but it will also save lives."