Genuine Dining Co launches office delivery service for businesses without catering

Independent caterer Genuine Dining Co (GDC) has launched a food delivery service for businesses that have employees returning to work but don’t have in-house catering facilities.

Genuine Delivers will be serviced from the company’s central production kitchen in Camberwell, with food delivered to businesses in London and beyond that want staff to minimise contact outside the office.

The company said it hoped the initiative would protect the jobs of chefs and front of staff house that would be at risk if an increase in homeworking reduced the need for traditional B&I catering.

A daily changing menu of sandwiches, salads, hot meals, soups, sushi and desserts will be created by GDC executive chef Nina Mash and Stuart Dring, executive chef of event caterer the Admirable Crichton, which GDC bought out of administration in 2019.

Orders will be placed daily via phone or the GDC app and will be delivered in individual sustainable packaging using the company’s delivery vans and motorbikes.

GDC told The Caterer it hoped Genuine Delivers would form “an add-on to the traditional B&I business” and that it was exploring opportunities outside of London, due to the increase in homeworking and the difficulty for employees to commute to offices in London.

Chris Mitchell, director of Group Genuine, said: “We feel there is a real need for people to feel safe in the workplace. People returning to work won’t want to go to the high street and stand in queues of people they don’t know. There is also the consideration of refrigeration and safe practises if employees do choose to bring their own food, which could present further problems like fridge space and availability.

“With Admiral Crichton able to assist with fine dining and hospitality without kitchens, Feng Sushi for lunchtime catering and Genuine Dining for retail-feel B&I lunches, we’re really well placed to deliver this and ease people back into the workplace.”