Frozen food distributor Central Foods has helped to fit out the kitchen of a new community clubhouse as part of the company’s 25th birthday celebrations.
The company donated £2,500 to the new facility which has been built by Collingtree Parish Council on a sports ground at Watering Lane, Collingtree in Northamptonshire – just a short distance from Central Foods’ headquarters.
The donation has been used to fit out the new kitchen with equipment, cutlery, and crockery.
Central Foods also supplied food for more than 150 guests who recently attended the official opening of the new village sports clubhouse.
Central Foods managing director Gordon Lauder said: “Our local community has always been very supportive of us and many of our staff live locally, so we are delighted to be able to celebrate our 25th anniversary with a donation to the new Collingtree sports clubhouse.
“We are committed to encouraging the enjoyment of physical sports and activities - three years ago, Central Foods donated a new football kit to Collingtree C of E Primary School – and we hope that our 25th anniversary donation provides the finishing touches to what is a great new facility for the village and those who use the sports ground.”
The parish council thanked all the organisations who had donated to the scheme, helping it come to fruition.
It said: “The playing fields have always had a sporting presence through the years, and we are delighted that we now have a pavilion to support this activity.
“Without the support from our funding partners at Sport England and the Northamptonshire Community Foundation, and of course the close collaboration between the sporting groups (Collingtree Cricket Club, Collingtree Tennis Club and GLK Soccer) and the Parish Council, we couldn't have dreamed of this project being completed. We are extremely grateful for everyone's efforts to get to today.
“It is our hope that this impressive facility will serve as a vital hub for local sport, both for Collingtree village and the wider community for many years to come.
“We would also like to give our heartfelt thanks to Central Foods for kindly donating £2,500 to help furnish the building and for also providing the free buffet food for the opening ceremony. Special thanks are also given to local resident Chris Baker from Designs4Retail, who was able to secure 20 new bar stools and five tables for the building. These were gifted to us via their client BAT UK. We are extremely grateful for their kind donation.”
The recreation ground is used by a range of local sports groups for tennis, football, cricket and rugby and the new clubhouse has been funded by a combination of grant and parish council funds. It features two changing rooms, showers and a small kitchen and bar, and replaces two containers that were previously used as make-shift changing rooms and for storing sports equipment.
Central Foods, which is run by Gordon and his wife Alison, who is the marketing director, was set up from the dining room table in 1996 and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading frozen food distributors to the food service sector. It supplies a wide range of frozen food to restaurants, bars, hotels, schools, universities, care homes, hospitals and other outlets.
The company is based at Maple Court, Ash Lane, Collingtree, and operates across the UK.
For more information visit www.centralfoods.co.uk