Quattro Foods, in Portfield Road in Copnor, Portsmouth, creates bespoke meals for restaurants.
But when those restaurants closed their doors at the end of March, it was left with a huge pile of stock that was no longer needed.
Managing director Sam Brower decided the firm wouldn’t waste food and instead appealed to organisations such as Pompey in the Community and Portsmouth Hive to begin shipping out as much fresh produce as the firm had.
Other meals, such as soups, pasta sauces and curries were frozen and have been being distributed to people in need over the last 10 weeks.
People who have received the meals include groups of people living in HMOs in Southsea, and people who have found themselves applying for Universal Credit but without any means to feed themselves and their families for a few weeks.
Others have included elderly people who can’t get to supermarkets, those with special dietary requirements, military families, NHS and care workers and even bicycle shop staff.
Sam said: ‘When restaurants had to close we were just stuck with ingredients that people weren’t going to pay for, and we knew other companies had the same, so we asked them to send it to us and said we will send it to people in the local community.
‘This is what we do, we cook great food and we can continue to do it and put a smile on people’s faces.
‘The more you help people the more help you get back. You just see the nicer side of people. We have met so many new people doing different things, it’s nice to be part of that community.
‘It’s a really difficult time for many people, it’s nice to turn it into something positive. I never cease to be amazed at how much we can all achieve in the face of adversity, when we pull together.’
Sam has applied for a grant to enable to company to carry on the work they are doing with charities and produce specific meals that are required.