QFC, COORS, OTHER VENDORS RAISING FUNDS TO FIGHT MS

RICHARD TURCSIK

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Quality Food Centers here has teamed up with Coors and several other vendors as part of its annual effort to raise funds for the Western Washington Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The fund-raising effort included donating 50 cents for every case of Coors Light, Original Coors, Coors Cutter, Keystone brands, Zima and Killian's brands sold at QFC from Feb. 21 to March 19.

Officials at QFC could not be reached for comment, but the promotion was a success at raising funds for the MS Society, according to officials close to the campaign.

"This particular event is going over extremely well and to date they have already raised over $200,000 from all their vendors," Cinde Dolphin, a Coors spokeswoman, told SN near the end of the campaign.

She added that QFC has supported the local MS chapter for several years and has been increasing its involvement every year.

John Meyers, president of Meyers Distributing Co., the Kirkland, Wash.-based distributor of Coors products in the Seattle area, told SN QFC merchandised the Coors products with large displays to draw attention to the fund-raiser.

"We have mobile package displays for several brands involved in the thing. Plus we have specific headers made up that outline the contribution to the MS Society. The cost of the donation is split between Coors and their wholesalers," he said.

Meyers, who said the displays helped boost sales of Coors at QFC, said this was the first year his distributor had participated in this campaign. Coors and its distributor are donating the 50 cents per case to the MS fight, while QFC is donating floor space for displays and space in its circulars to the Coors products for the cause, Meyers said.