JCB’s Food for our Communities initiative has reached a major milestone by despatching its 10,000th meal.
Catering staff at the firm’s HQ in Rocester have been preparing cottage pies, macaroni cheese and bolognese dishes for disadvantaged families and individuals across the region during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The milestone comes just a month after the initiative started. Thus far, JCB has used around two tonnes of potatoes, more than one tonne of minced beef and almost half a tonne of both pasta and onions to prepare the dishes.
In India – where JCB has factories in Delhi, Pune and Jaipur – the scale is even greater, with 100,000 meals having already been prepared.
Carole Bamford, wife of JCB chairman Lord Bamford, said, “I’m very proud of all the work the teams in the UK and India are undertaking. Their efforts are making a real difference to the lives of so many people in our communities.”
Thousands of the meals made in Staffordshire are being distributed across Stoke-on-Trent by the Burslem-based Hubb Foundation. Founder Carol Shanahan said, “You cannot underestimate the impact the JCB ‘Food for our Communities’ initiative is having on families in our city. Those receiving the food are just so very grateful that companies like JCB are stepping in to help at this time. It’s simply amazing.”
JCB chef Alastair Rowe added, “It is very rewarding for the whole team to be involved in this project. We have had some wonderful feedback which shows our communities really do appreciate what JCB is doing at this time.”
