Consumers are being encouraged to be charitable during the month of Ramadhan with the new “Belanja & Beramal” (Spend and Perform Good Deeds) campaign. Launched by Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd and GCH Retail (M) Sdn Bhd (owners and operators of Giant hypermarkets and stores in Malaysia), the campaign, runs from 7 August to September 3 2009, and is aimed at raising funds for the poor while promoting healthier eating habits among consumers.

The two companies will jointly contribute an average of 30 sen from the proceeds of selected Nestle products sold at all Giant stores to three organisations. Furthermore, they will commit a minimum of RM10,000 each to:

1. Al-Khadeem Organisation, a non-profit organisation that deals with orphans, single mothers and the elderly,
2. the Selangor and Federal Territory Association for the Mentally Handicapped, which provides education, training and care for mentally-handicapped children and young adults, and
3. Persatuan Ehsan Wanita & Anak-Anak Kuala Lumpur (Pewanida), an NGO that was established to help poor women and children.

According to news reports, the 10 products selected for the campaign include Nestle Cornflakes, Nestle Yogurt Natural Set, Nescafe Classic, Nestum, Nestle Nesvita Omega Plus, Milo Fuze, Nestle Bliss Maggi Recipe Mixes and Maggi Tastylite.

In addition to the campaign, it has been reported that Nestle will be sharing information and tips on nutrition, health and wellness with all its consumers.