‘Compleat’ Christmas meal prepared for local charity

Employees from Compleat Food Group spread some early Christmas cheer by cooking 50 Christmas lunches for local members and volunteers of MHA Communities, a charity befriending scheme.

Staff from the leading chilled food supplier’s deli and plant-based division in Merstham gave up their time to help cook and serve two-course meals at the Methodist Church Hall in Redhill.

The food group’s team clocked up a total of 62 volunteering hours as well as donating all the food for the event – turkey and all the trimmings - and they even did the washing up.

Julia Nye, community co-ordinator at MHA Communities, said: “We can’t thank the team enough for cooking such delicious food for our members and volunteers, it was the tastiest festive meal with all the trimmings.

“After a difficult couple of years, it was a total joy to be together and get into the Christmas spirit. The members had a great time, and our volunteers were able to relax. We are very much appreciative of the group’s time and support.”

Members from The Compleat Food Group’s marketing, finance, commercial and technical departments all came together to help buy all the produce, peel and chop and cook - and then serve the meals to 50 hungry MHA recipients and volunteers.

David Houghton, group ESG director said: “It’s fantastic that the team were able to support MHA Communities and what better way to get in the festive spirit than cooking a Christmas lunch for everyone.

“We’re delighted that our annual volunteering event was able to return after two years, due to the pandemic, and we are really proud to support our local community, whilst indulging our passion for food and cooking.

MHA Communities in East Surrey helps to tackle loneliness in the elderly and brings those together through social activities.

The Compleat Food Group has been formed by the merger of Winterbotham Darby and Addo Food Group. The group is a leading supplier across the chilled pastry, olives, antipasti, plant-based and continental meats categories to all major retailers across the UK. This is

delivered via a workforce of nearly 3,000 staff across ten manufacturing sites.