The event at the weekend raised several thousand pounds for the local primary school and was an ideal marketing opportunity for the Co-operative brand according to Deborah Todd, local marketing manager for Co-op.

The main financial sponsor for the Stirlingshire event, the Co-operative also donated prizes and involved their suppliers in donating refreshments and fruit for the run.

Deborah Todd said: “The Co-operative is committed to putting resources back into the communities it serves as part of its founding values and principles. However, it is also appropriate that we should channel marketing resource into grassroots activities to build on our community reputation and strengthen it.

“It’s a win win situation for us and the community of Balfron. Businesses need to identify their core markets, and work on reputation building from there.”