apetito goes the extra mile... in the snow

With heavy snowfall across much of the UK, apetito is working with local authorities to ensure that residents continue to receive their meals on wheels – a much needed service especially in sub-zero temperatures.

Already this week, members of the apetito team have pulled out all the stops to ensure business continues as normal; a contract supervisor at the Larkfield Depot walked for two hours in deep snow to get to work to ensure that the deliveries were organised and hot meals went out.  Another member of staff walked several miles to deliver meals when public transport and icy roads prevented the Chefmobil using its normal route and the company has placed a series of 4 x 4’s on standby in very remote, rural areas in case of further incidents.

“If the vehicles can’t get through, the team will try and deliver the meals on foot, in spite of the conditions” said Graham Russell, managing director, apetito Community Meals.

“In Market Harborough for example, which has been hit with heavy snow, all the delivery rounds have been equipped with spades and buckets of salt to try and ensure that meals get through.  The supervisor has his own 4x4 and this has been used to deliver to out- lying villages and some drops have been done on foot.
 
“In addition, the drivers are making additional welfare checks on all of their clients and made sure that they are prepared for prolonged periods of snow and cold weather.”

The latest weather conditions are just another example of apetito going the extra mile in times of emergency. Throughout 2009, the company has provided invaluable support and assistance across the UK; providing meals to people when fire, a power cut, snow storm and most recently, the administration of Flowfoods Ltd. ‘Meals on Wheels’ service, have prevented people from having their normal meal service.
 
With just hours notice, apetito has stepped up to deliver many meals to people and is now being dubbed the 4th emergency service.

“The team’s ability to act quickly and efficiently combined with our specialist knowledge of feeding older people and the vulnerable means that we can prevent a drama from becoming a crisis,”

“For example, earlier this year we provided breakfast, lunch and dinner for two days with just hours notice after a block of flats was evacuated due to a fire in Southwark.  We stepped in to help some of the 60,000 people affected by a power cut in Dartford and after power cuts in Caddington, Berkshire, the team were called to assist and delivered meals late into the evening with the team finishing in the early hours of the next morning!

“The people we are helping are often poorly or more vulnerable than the average and every meal is essential for their well-being. We’re here to help and will be doing our utmost to ensure it’s business as usual – snow or not!”

> Find out more about our community meals services for Local Authorities