Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Cargill Brand and Hereford United

The sponsorship of Hereford United by Cargill is almost certainly the longest sponsorship deal in football. But from this season the name on the shirt has changed.

Cargill's managing director Richard Maxfield has been telling BBC Hereford and Worcester about the relationship between the his company and Hereford United.

"We've been sponsoring Hereford United for 18 years. It's business as usual. The local community will still know us as Sun Valley but the logo is going to change.

"It's part of our re-branding. We've been part of Cargill for 30 years. We've been part of this community for 50 years - next year.

"It's time for us to bring our european business in line with our corporate branding recognition and that's why we have changed the name and so the logo.

"We've done a deal with Hereford again. It's a rolling programme that we have with these guys.

"We have some community money which we always put aside to help with local projects within our community.

"Hereford United we feel is a big part of that. We've got a great relation with them. Our employees value that relationship and that connection we have with this club.

"Cargill is a privately owned company. It has a very low brand recognition on a global basis and the UK is no different. It's not a retail brand that people will associate so it will be a new brand for most people."