Company wins county food contract

A BID to source local produce for the county's school meals and care homes has led to a North Yorkshire company being awarded a multi-million pound contract.

Gilmoor Foods, based in Ripley near Harrogate, has won the 5m contract with North Yorkshire County Council to provide fresh meat and poultry and frozen food for the county's schools, care homes and outdoor education centres.

All the meat and poultry will be locally reared and Gilmoor Foods will supply its own homemade sausages.

The firm will also reduce "food miles" by using vans with separate compartments for fresh meat and frozen food, so both can be delivered at the same time.

County Council executive member for schools, Councillor Jim Clark, said: "The county council is proud to be using a local business which both employs local people and allows for the supply of local produce in support of North Yorkshire's farming community.

"Not only will this contract lead to a reduction of food miles in the supply of meat products to our schools and care homes around the county, but it will also lead to greater support for high standards in animal welfare."