Bella Italia to provide 1,000 free meals to NHS staff

Bella Italia has announced its commitment  to provide 1,000 free meals to NHS staff on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic this month.

The dining chain has now reopened its South Kensington branch in order to begin preparing pasta and pizza dishes from its spring menu to be delivered to frontline workers. 

The group will be working with Deliveroo to provide the meals every week over the next month, as part of the delivery provider’s campaign to provide 500,000 free meals to NHS workers as the pandemic continues.

The meal donations mark the latest effort from Bella Italia to support the NHS at this time. The group has previously provided fresh food to the NHS, as well as elderly and vulnerable members of the public.

Bella Italia also offers 50% off the total bill to all NHS workers and first responders through a small number of sites that remain open for delivery via Deliveroo.

The group also said it has implemented “strict extra procedures” to ensure the safety of all employees, including social distancing measures between staff and delivery drivers, contact-free handover of prepared meals, and regular sanitisation of the pass.

Lisa Gibbons, brand director at Bella Italia, said: “This initiative, which the entire team has got behind, is indicative of our amazing team culture at Bella, something I’m immensely proud to be a part of. 

“We’re delighted to contribute to this scheme and do our bit to support the NHS through these difficult and unprecedented times.” 

She added: “As always, the safety of our team and guests is absolutely paramount, so we have taken extensive precautions and introduced new procedures and protocols to ensure that we can meet this commitment.”