JCB’s ‘Food For Our Communities’ initiative has hit a massive milestone as company chefs served up the 25,000th meal for those in need in Staffordshire.

Since the launch of the scheme – the idea of Carole Bamford, wife of JCB Chairman Lord Bamford – catering staff at the World HQ in Rocester have prepared cottage

pies, macaroni cheese and bolognese dishes for disadvantaged families and individuals across the region during the coronavirus crisis.

The 25,000th meal was cooked and despatched from JCB’s kitchen following the start of the initiative in March. So far, the team has used around five tonnes of potatoes, more than 2.5 tonnes of minced beef and more than a tonne of both pasta and onions to prepare the dishes.

In India – where JCB has factories in Delhi, Pune and Jaipur – the scale of the initiative to support local communities was even greater and more than 175,000 meals have been served up during the course of the project.

Lady Bamford said: “The teams in the UK and India have done an amazing job in supporting our communities during this crisis and the provision of more than 200,000 meals has made such a positive difference to so many people.”

The project concludes at the end of this month.