Kerry Logistics builds food delivery networks for charities in UK

Kerry Logistics Network Limited has supported two food charities facing increased demand for help during the COVID-19 pandemic to set up delivery networks across Manchester, home of its UK headquarters.

The Kerry Logistics UK team delivered groceries and ready meals for social enterprise Open Kitchen MCR and charity The Bread and Butter Thing free of charge at the beginning of the pandemic, and has helped them to establish reliable delivery networks to meet the growing needs of homeless and at risk people in the city.

“Initially we delivered to a sheltered housing development and two hotels in the city centre, which are being used as temporary accommodation for homeless people,” said Stacey Byrne, sales and marketing development manager, Kerry Logistics (UK).

“We also collected commercial refrigerators that were not being used by businesses closed in the lockdown and delivered them to the charities to assist in feeding those most at risk.

“Since then, the project has grown significantly, and meals are being delivered city-wide through a collaborative partnership led by Manchester City Council with local businesses.

“Having undertaken some of these deliveries myself, I have seen first-hand the benefits these charities are bringing to the community. The recipients, some of whom are in extremely vulnerable situations, are incredibly grateful for the donated food, which has been a real lifeline for them.”

Open Kitchen MCR is a caterer, which uses food that would otherwise be wasted and invests its income in community projects such as food banks.

During COVID-19, its team of volunteers, which now includes chefs from some of Manchester’s leading restaurants who are currently on furlough, is cooking and delivering over 11,000 meals a week to vulnerable people.

Community-led charity The Bread and Butter Thing is providing emergency food support through the coronavirus crisis and recently moved into a temporary warehouse in order to upscale meal deliveries from 150,000 to an expected one million a week.