Preston chicken firm donates free meals to hospital staff

Staff at Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble Hospitals are receiving free meals

The firm in Fletcher Road, which is owned by the Vaza family, has also pledged £100,000 to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the hospitals, to help it during the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, the Vaza family who also co-own the Imperial Banqueting Suite in St Mary’s Street North, have offered to make the building, which has a 14,000 sq.ft function room, available free of charge to the Trust if needed.

Tahir Vaza said: “Although our family originates from the Gujarat region of India, we are third generation Prestonians and we want to show our support for those working to keep our city well during this difficult time.”

Gafoor Limited processes locally farmed chicken supplying Red Tractor farm-assured fresh meat to all the UK’s major supermarket chains as well as reputable blue chip food manufacturers.

It is now donating freshly processed chicken meat from its own factory to the Imperial Banqueting Suite’s kitchen.

Head chef Mr Shah, who has cooked for former Prime Minister David Cameron and other cabinet ministers at 10 Downing Street, is using it to make different curry dishes.

Along with freshly baked naan bread and vegetarian meals such as lentil dahl, the curries are being packed so they can be re-heated.

They are then being delivered to the Royal Preston Hospital where bed management administrator Safwan Mahetar is allocating their distribution.

Paula Wilson, Head of Charities and Fundraising for LTHTR, said: “We would like to thank Gafoor Limited for its generosity and kindness.

"It is quite overwhelming the way in which the company has stepped forward to help the Trust and its staff.”