The Making A Difference Locally (MADL) charity enjoyed a record-breaking 2011, donating more than £1.2m to local good causes.

Retailers gifted significant sums to a variety of charities, schools, hospices and football clubs across the UK.

MADL, which accrues funds from the sale of participating products in Nisa members’ stores, won the Best Wholesale Business Initiative at the Convenience Retail Awards 2011. The award recognised the scheme for innovation, creativity and for improving business for a significant number of retailers.

The charity also supported many community events through the course of the year. One of the most recent has been the collaboration between Nisa member North East Convenience Stores and Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) to renovate the Briardale Youth and Community Centre.

“Every donation made by each Nisa store across the country has made a difference to the community it trades in and it is hoped that as more suppliers come on board, 2012 will be even bigger and better with many more donations made to good causes across the UK,” a Nisa spokesman commented.