We have quickly become familiar with the grim diet of disease, closures and shortages that currently fill our news feeds.
Despite the negativity, though, there are a number of ‘good news’ stories involving the catering and hospitality industry that show the commitment, compassion and concern that typify its ‘can do’ attitude.
As an industry, feeding school pupils, patients and healthcare staff, students, care home residents, prisoners and service personnel puts you firmly in the front line.
You will, understandably have concerns about rising infection rates, staff absences, supply issues, job security or even boredom at home.
But each of these worries also provides the opportunity for something positive, and that’s what we are looking for.
Starting today we are kicking off an antidote to the bad news with a burst of positivity, so tell us how are you rising to the challenge?
We invite you to share your own thoughts and stories on Twitter using the hashtag #PSCPositivity. Alternatively you can submit your stories by emailing davidf@dewberryredpoint.co.uk with PSCPositivity in the subject line.
Here’s what we’ve learned so far about how the catering and hospitality industry reacts in a crisis:-
• Manchester catering company Open Kitchen MCR is using surplus food as a result of cancelled events and turning it into meals for people in need by a local not-for-profit cooking project. A spokesman said: “We’ve got a lot of food, no catering orders, and lots of people who are going to need our help in the coming weeks and months.”
• Pret is offering NHS workers free hot drinks and 50% off everything else
• Restaurant and takeaway chain Carluccio’s is doing something similar, offering NHS staff 50% off everything
• A makeshift meals on wheels delivery service has been created in Cumbria, where Dianne Irving and her daughter Danielle run three pubs. They set up a not-for-profit pub meals delivery service for elderly people in the area after being touched by stories about the isolation of relatives and friends
• And Karen Fewell, aka Digital Blonde, and Sarah Robb, who regularly team up for The Foodservice Podcast, have decided to launch a ‘coffee and chat’ virtual/online meeting starting on Tuesday, March 25th, ‘to bring everyone together, to keep talking and supporting each other and be kind’