WRVS lose meals on wheels

by John Eccles

EAST Sussex 'meals on wheels will no longer be delivered by members of the Women s Royal Voluntary Service, who have provided the service for decades.

The 1.4 million a year contract for the service involving the cooking and delivery of 750 hot meals a day across the county to the elderly and infirm - has been awarded to the Apetito Group from March.

A county council spokesman said Apetito won after technical, financial and quality evaluations of the various bids.

The WRVS is now involved in talks with social services about the future use of its volunteer workforce.

In the previous contract, the WRVS delivered half the meals, while the county council s in-house service prepared the meals and delivered the other half.

Apetito, however, is to use 21 'chefmobils to provide a complete service.

Jane Carter, East Sussex County Council catering manager, said: 'The decision to appoint Apetito was taken because our members were very impressed with the unique style of service, using small vans to re-heat meals on the way.

'This enables meals of a high quality to reach our residents.

Each small van is fitted with an oven and has the capacity to heat 60 meals and desserts at a time.

In the past, meals had to be heated to extremely high temperatures in an attempt to keep them warm until delivery.

The new system allows meals to be heated en-route, ensuring that they are piping hot on arrival.