Grocer revisits family Spanish flu link by making food deliveries
A grocer is making nearly 100 deliveries a day during the coronavirus lockdown, following in the footsteps of his great-great-grandfather who did the same during the Spanish flu epidemic.
Wholesalervincentmcgowan, 53, has been dropping off fruit and vegetable packs to vulnerable people and those self-isolating across Greenock in Inverclyde.
His business MVM Fruit Services started in 1904.
And in 1918, during the Spanish flu outbreak, his greatgreat-grandfather David delivered fruit and vegetables to families in the area.
Despite the pandemic, Vincent said he had been “enjoying” helping the community.
He said: “As a wholesaler, we started to lose a lot of business when the coronavirus outbreak began as our customers closed their doors, so we had to adapt. It’s been a really warming experience.
“People are so thankful when we turn up at the door with the supplies and they can have a wee chat.”
His daughter Claire and sons Paul and Ross have been helping out with 80 deliveries a day, along with employee John O’donnell.
The family business is offering £10 and £20 variety packs for delivery.
Items packed into the boxes include baking potatoes, apples, satsumas, kiwi fruit, onions, pears, leeks, Maris Piper potatoes and lettuce.
When delivering, Vincent and the team stick to social distancing guidelines and abide by infection control measures.
The business plans to carry on with the service when lockdown lifts and they are considering offering itemised ordering.
Vincent said: “The variety packs are a good way for us to get the volume out there.
“We’ve made sure that we have ingredients for soups as people are in the house a lot more and there’s salad veg and fruit in there too. We still have customers of our own to service and we’re keeping that going at the same time.
“It’s been a good experience and we’re really enjoying it.”
Workers on the Bruce platform in the North Sea have meanwhile posted a video of themselves applauding the work of NHS staff.
Staff on the Bruce platform – more than 200 miles off the Aberdeen coast – were broadcast applauding from the decks of the facility at 8pm on Thursday night, while others held up signs of appreciation from the platform’s helipad.
Offshore installation manager John Redpath said the decision to take part in the event was a group one. More than half of the 85 crew members took part in the display.