Northampton catering company 'proud' of efforts to feed those shielding on a budget during lockdown

Loretta Scaccia's business has been making low cost home-cooked meals for people during lockdown to store in their freezer if they're too poorly to cook
The shop is based on Kings Heath Industrial Estate and caters for commercial events too.The shop is based on Kings Heath Industrial Estate and caters for commercial events too.
The shop is based on Kings Heath Industrial Estate and caters for commercial events too.

A catering company and sandwich bar boss has said she is proud of how her business has adapted during lockdown to keep their costs covered and look after those who are isolating.

Lorretta Scaccia has owned Cibo in Kings Heath Industrial Estate for the best part of 20 years - providing food for mainly corporate functions and clients.

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After Boris Johnson announced the news of the lockdown on March 23 she said most of her business it made me feel nauseous.

Loretta Scaccia first launched her business 20 years agoLoretta Scaccia first launched her business 20 years ago
Loretta Scaccia first launched her business 20 years ago

"We had this inkling that something might be up as some of our customers starting cancelling trading but when it was announced that everybody needed to shut I just felt sick.

"I didn't really know what we would do as we have six staff, and everyone is in the same position with bills to pay so I didn't know how we would make it work and I had children at home so it was a case of thinking outside the box with what we could do.

"We are never, ever going to fill the corporate hole, ever, we do a lot of meals everyday for the corporate world and to fill that with anything during a lockdown wouldn't have been possible but I just needed to get my costs covered to pay my bills and suppliers."

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Cibo did qualify for a small business grant which has paid for three months rent at the firm's commercial kitchen in Northampton where six of the staff have been furloughed.

Chef Martin CharltonChef Martin Charlton
Chef Martin Charlton

In the meantime Loretta, with the help from her chef, has been busy making use of in-date produce to give to residents who have been self-isolating or shielding.

She has been ordering hard-to-buy stock for her customers from her wholesales and has delivered 150 hot meals - including bolognese and stews - each week at £4.50 a portion to keep costs as low as possible for buyers.

"We did not kind of aim it as why don't you have a treat on your Friday night and spend £60 for your family - we aimed it as if you can't afford to feed your family or you can't get to the supermarket then we will deliver a meal to you for £4.50 so you can feed a family of five for £20.

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"Which is pretty much what we've been doing is delivering really good quality home-cooked meals and keeping them as cheap as possible so it's not a luxury and people can afford to do it on a regular basis. We've fed people's parents who cannot get out to the shops every day for six weeks.

If you would like to take part in our 'Your Town Needs You' campaign, which promotes what's special about Northampton's small businesses, please email carly.roberts@jpimedia.co.uk.If you would like to take part in our 'Your Town Needs You' campaign, which promotes what's special about Northampton's small businesses, please email carly.roberts@jpimedia.co.uk.
If you would like to take part in our 'Your Town Needs You' campaign, which promotes what's special about Northampton's small businesses, please email [email protected].

"I am quite proud to be fair, it's not been easy. You do it at the time and put one foot in front of the other but when I think about how much food I have cooked while juggling three children at home, it's made me appreciate what I have got and realise how little we need."