CORONAVIRUS: Boston-area wholesaler helping provide food boxes to most vulnerable as part of massive Government scheme

A food wholesaler near Boston says it is ‘extremely humbled’ to be helping the Government provide essential supplies to those at highest risk of the coronavirus.
Food boxes ready to be delivered.Food boxes ready to be delivered.
Food boxes ready to be delivered.

Last month, the NHS advised some 1.5 million clinically vulnerable people to stay at home for 12 weeks and be shielded from Covid-19.

To support them through this period, the Government has arranged to have free food boxes containing essential supplies and household items such as pasta and tinned goods be delivered to them.

Among the businesses to be involved in the scheme – the largest of its type since the Second World War – is South Lincs Foodservice, of Sutterton.

Products contained within a care pack.Products contained within a care pack.
Products contained within a care pack.

It is the only independent business working on the project in the East of England.

General manager Simon Davison said: “I, along with my team are extremely humbled to be able to help those within our local communities who need our services most. Currently we are completing in the region of 5,000 deliveries a week and we believe it will continue to increase to at least 6,000 per week within the short term.

“We are suppling care packages within a section of our normal delivery area, which includes Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.”

Mr Davison said the business’ involvement with the scheme has also helped to secure the services of numerous colleagues who otherwise would have been facing an extended period furlough leave.

He added: “On behalf of myself and the entire South Lincs family, we are grateful that we can play a small part within the fight against coronavirus by keeping vulnerable people safe and also reducing the burden on the NHS.”