Two of the UK’s leading foodservice wholesalers, Brakes and Bidfood, have joined together in order to support a government initiative to ensure that vital food supplies reach the country’s most vulnerable people during the coronavirus crisis.
The project will see the two foodservice giants work together to deliver weekly care packages across the UK to people at high risk from the virus who are not able to get easy access to food at this challenging time.
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In a joint statement from Andrew Selley and Hugo Mahoney, chief executives of Bidfood and Brakes, the companies confirmed their involvement: “During this national crisis, Bidfood and Brakes, the UK’s largest wholesalers, have joined forces to deliver weekly food and essential supply boxes to many of the 1.5m extremely vulnerable people in isolation.
Moving at record pace, we have worked with government departments to create a service capable of reaching every corner of England, through our national depot networks. Our security-checked, professional delivery drivers are hugely motivated and proud to be playing their part in serving their local communities in this fantastic endeavour.”
With many foodservice outlets temporarily closed, Bidfood and Brakes have been able to redirect some of their experienced teams to deliver hese care boxes across the country, with the initial deliveries beginning over the weeend.
The parcels, which will be delivered to the doorstep, will contain more than 20 essentials including pasta, cereal, tea bags, fresh and tinned fruit, milk, bread and biscuits, as well as non-food items like toilet rolls and shower gel.
Since Monday, 900,000 extremely vulnerable people received letters from the NHS giving them guidance on how to shield from coronavirus. In total up to 1.5m will be asked to be shielded in this way. Others who did not receive letters but think they are part of this clinically vulnerable group should contact their GP.
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Hi,
I have just received our second ‘HMG’ food box, many thanks.
Is it possible to vary the contents please, as it will take us months to consume some of it?
If possible, we would like to reduce to what we need, so that others, particularly with families locked down, will not go short. We understand this may be difficult, but worth a try.
Many thanks for your quick response to HMGs policy.
Regards,
Neville Munro
BR1