Our principal partner Mornflake Oats are helping heroes on the front lines of the nation’s battle against coronavirus.
Rescue pallets of porridge and other oat-based products milled by Cheshire-based Mornflake are being shipped to NHS workers, food banks and vulnerable people across the region.
The family milling firm is also supporting the national DEFRA care parcel scheme, with a pack of Mornflake Oats being included in over half a million parcels sent to households this month.
While stepping up supplies to supermarkets across the UK, Mornflake is supporting the drive to ensure our brave doctors and nurses have a nutritious start to the day and hard-pressed food banks are topped up with oat cereals.
With a heritage stretching back 345 years when the Lea family first began milling oats in South Cheshire, Mornflake remains Britain’s fourth oldest family-run company and it’s not the first time it has stepped up to help feed the nation. During the Second World War it ‘milled for victory’ and its porridge became a pantry staple.
Generations later the Lea family are still at the helm. Managing director, John Lea, said: “Mornflake is doing its bit to help our incredible frontline and the vulnerable during a challenging time. We have seen other companies, such as Dyson, switch to manufacturing much-needed hospital equipment and the one thing we can do is supply a good nutritious breakfast to those in need.
“Our staff here have been doing a fantastic job working around the clock in these challenging circumstances. In our deliveries to NHS staff we have been overwhelmed by their good cheer in the face of adversity epitomising the ‘quiet good-humoured resolve’ Her Majesty the Queen spoke of in her address.”
He added: “We applaud the efforts of all those doctors, nurses and carers putting the health of others beyond concerns for their own and we will be joining the chorus of people clapping for them tonight.”
The story of Mornflake spans five centuries and 15 generations of the Lea family starting with William Lea who began milling oats at Swettenham Mill, South Cheshire in 1675 – nine years after the Great Fire of London. It is the oldest business in Crewe, milling oats before steam locomotion and railways.
In Britain’s hours of need and peril during WW2 Phillip Lea set about feeding the nation from a disused flour mill in Crewe. The Ministry of Food decided that Mr Lea would best serve Britain’s war effort by producing milled oats on mass than and had to forego his career RAF.
As an excellent source of energy oats became the number one daily dietary staple during what would become known as the ration years. A new factory was built on Gresty Road, Crewe to cope with the demand of feeding a nation at war.
Whilst Rolls Royce was engineering Merlin engines for Spitfires, Phillip Lea was feeding pilots, sailors and soldiers and millions of families at home. Milling for victory.
Now as food production staff, Mornflake millers are designated key personnel by UK government during the health crisis as are its drivers at the wheel of trademark orange lorries making deliveries the length and breadth of the country.
Meanwhile the company is working with health and fitness experts to highlight how oats can be used in all meal occasions presenting versatility, value for money and all round goodness. Recipe videos are set to go live soon.
For more on how oats can support good health and the immune system go to www.mornflake.com