An independent catering company which works within industry, independent schools and the conference venue sector has been able to keep 18 of its catering operations open during the lockdown.
Staff at Wilson Vale, which is based in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, have continued to feed around 2,000 keyworkers each day across independent and special needs schools and the pharmaceutical sector.
The business said it had invested £120,000 in PPE, including enough masks for people to travel to and from work in, visors and masks for the workplace, gloves, aprons, contactless hand sanitisers and safe distancing signs.
Pre-lockdown the catering company was working with around 100 clients and recording strong growth. Last year turnover was around £35 million.
Managing director Alan Beddie said: “We are putting everything possible in place to minimise risk to our staff and customers.
“We are running at 20 per cent operational rate at the moment, with many of our sites and staff in hibernation, so we are using this time to assess every aspect of our operations to ensure that we will be ready to go once current restrictions ease.
“Our senior team and operational staff are getting a good rest at present, but communication has been important; keeping in touch with our clients and senior team has been crucial as relationships are the bedrock of Wilson Vale.
“Although the way we work in the future will inevitably change, we will, naturally, continue to operate with the culture and sense of teamwork that has enabled us to establish the exciting position the business enjoys.
“Daily business life has continued to a degree.
“With the confidence of being in a stable financial position, we have continued to co-ordinate resources across the business and have remained active in the development and retention market, with two contract extensions already secured and two decisions pending - real tonic for the team in the current climate.”
Last year co-founders Andrew Wilson and Carolyne Vale were named in The Caterer’s Top 100 list of the most influential individuals that are having the biggest impact on the UK hospitality industry.
Successes have included winning the catering contract for College Court Conference Centre at The University of Leicester. The five-year deal worth £750,000 a year, has seen them providing catering services for conference guests and visitors, and providing the catering for weddings and events.
