A group of eight Tauranga businesses used their competitive drive to raise thousands of dollars worth of food and cash for the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal for the Tauranga Community Foodbank.
The tenants of the ANZ building on the corner of Cameron Rd and Elizabeth St pooled their efforts on Friday after a week of gathering donations in a bid to see who could raise the most.
Collection organiser Michelle Senkus, of Cooney Lees Morgan, said she was thrilled with the result, which was larger than last year's but disappointed that her company might have lost their title as reigning champions.
"We're pretty confident that the van was fuller than last year," she said.
"We think that probably KPMG might have just pipped us at the post. We'll be gracious in our defeat."
Ms Senkus said the tenants planned to run the competition every year. "It's a great cause," she said. "There's always people in need and the thought of going hungry would terrify me. I'd never want to be in that position and nobody should have to go hungry." Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin agreed the group managed to pull together more than last year and said the van was packed full. There looked to be well over 1000 items, she said.
"It was phenomenal. There was about $295 in cash too," she said.
"I'm impressed. [The appeal] has been running for two weeks. We're not even in December yet. It's exciting."
Excluding the ANZ building's donation, almost $8500 had been raised through the appeal. The total included 1628 donated items valued at $2 each.