Coronavirus: Latest news from West Midlands businesses
A Leamington-based distiller is using its expertise in handcrafted gin to make hand sanitiser for frontline workers.
Warwickshire Gin Company produced 4,000 litres of sanitiser on the first day of production and it will be made available exclusively to care homes and key workers.
After getting the go-ahead from HMRC, the business had labels made up and started producing the new product in their distillery.
The distiller is using the World Health Organisation’s recommended formula for the sanitiser – which uses the same base alcohol that is used in creating its artisan gins.
It is appealing to companies in the region for any stock of bottles to dispense the sanitiser, with stock from regular suppliers depleted across the UK.
Dave Blick, director at Warwickshire Gin Company, expects his business could produce up to 60,000 litres of sanitiser over the next 12 months.
He has also set-up a crowdfunding page to be able to give some the hand sanitiser away for free to those on the frontline who need it most.
He said: “For us it’s about making sure we are doing our bit to support and help key workers, from care workers to delivery drivers and supermarket staff.
“They are all struggling to get hold of this product and they are the people we will be helping out first.
“Everything is upfront cost for us. We can’t get any credit with any suppliers, because people are worried about getting paid. We’ve put our money into being able to finance our first batch, and hopefully that will support the next batch.
“If people can support the crowdfunding we have set up, we will be able to give more litres of hand sanitiser away and reach more people.
“We’re thinking outside of the box to find bottles for the sanitiser and have already sourced dispensing bottles from Little Soap Company and Primark at a discounted rate.
“It’s nice to be able to do something useful in times like this. Dunkirk spirit has been discussed, having lots of little ships helping, and we are grateful to be doing our bit.”
Warwickshire Gin Company is based in Leamington and was founded 18 months ago.
It is famous for its handcrafted dry gins which are inspired by the history of Warwickshire like Leamington On Parade and Kingmaker.
Mark Ryder, strategic director for communities at Warwickshire County Council, said: “There is a pressing need for supplies for frontline NHS and care home workers, so it is great to hear what the Warwickshire Gin Company has done off its own back to help the national cause.
“It is typical of the response we have had from firms of all sizes, and says a great deal about businesses across Warwickshire.”
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2 Sisters Food Group has been delivering cheer to thousands of NHS staff and charitable organisations during the coronavirus pandemic.
Businesses from across the Birmingham-based food giant’s wider group have ensured that NHS Trusts up and down the country, as well as food banks and other charitable groups, have been supplied with food during the national crisis.
Some of the support includes:
UK Poultry division
Providing poultry products for celebrity chef Tom Kerridge to support his ‘Meals from Marlow’ initiative. Teams have been supplying poultry to the chefs at Tom’s catering company who are creating free meals for all the frontline workers at local NHS Hospitals in Buckinghamshire
Derby site – Staff decided to donate their own complementary boxes of Fox’s Biscuits from management to the Royal Derby Hospital – 200 boxes have been received by the hospital’s charity hub
Llangefni poultry factory – technical manager Nici Roberts has been sewing bags for NHS staff and key workers delivering food to homes for vulnerable children. The bags will enable the workers to put their uniforms straight into the washing machine so they don’t need to handle them.
Meal Solutions division
Rogerstone Ready Meals factory – have donated thousands of aprons and overalls to four NHS trusts in the South Wales region
Pennine Foods, Sheffield – have donated ready meals to Jessops Hospital in the city
Cavaghan and Gray Ready Meals factory, Carlisle – decided to forego ‘thank you’ vouchers from the management team and instead spent the vouchers in the factory shop – donating the items they bought to the local food banks in the city.
Fox’s Biscuits
Have donated hundreds of thousands of biscuits to hospitals, care homes, charities and food banks across the UK, including: The West Midlands Ambulance Service; Newlands Care home in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire and Valorum Care Group homes across Yorkshire. The Old Vicarage Home and the Croft House Care home, both in Freckleton, Lancashire. Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield; Stoke University Hospital and Royal Derby Hospital
Hollands Pies factory
Holland’s pies are helping to deliver food parcels across North East Manchester providing thirty food parcels every week. Holland’s have also introduced a delivery service of pies in the North West.
Gunstones Bakery in Dronfield
Have donated hundreds of Hot Cross Buns and rolls each week to Re:store a weekly community Food Service for those less fortunate in the Dronfield area
Ronald Kers, 2 Sisters Food Group CEO, said: “We’re proud to play a big role in helping to feed the nation during this time of crisis. But as a large food business making different products at many locations across the UK, we are also delighted to be able to put a smile on people’s faces during such difficult times.
“It is simply amazing that our local teams have decided to give something back to the communities in which they work.
“Whether it’s Fox’s Biscuits for many NHS Trusts or care homes, or a local food bank or other charity organisations, it’s really humbling to see our colleagues rallying in such challenging times to say a simple ‘thank you’ to those that need it most.”
