Morrisons_School_Box_03

Source: Morrisons

The retailer is partnering with DPD to deliver the boxes directly to pupils’ homes, free of charge

Morrisons has upscaled its production of food boxes to help school children entitled to free school meals.

The supermarket said it had upped capacity so it could produce “tens of thousands” of boxes each week. It has been working with schools since November to provide breakfast and lunch food to isolating children who would normally be eligible for free school meals.

It has moved the task of fulfilment out of stores and to its Food Boxes manufacturing team. It is also partnering with DPD to deliver the boxes directly to pupils’ homes, free of charge.

The Morrisons School Meal Box costs £15. Morrisons said it provided enough food for one child to have five breakfasts and five lunches.

Schools who wish to place an order just need to follow this link and complete the form. Boxes are delivered Monday to Friday and when ordered before 10am are delivered the next working day. Parents will be provided with tracking information by DPD.

The move was welcomed by Manchester United star Marcus Rashford, whose child poverty taskforce Morrisons has been working with, alongside other supermarkets.

“The purpose of forming the Child Food Poverty Taskforce was to demonstrate a strong commitment from the food industry to protect those most vulnerable across the UK,” he said.

“Morrisons has acted by example in covering the deficit caused by children isolating and now acting to guarantee children on free school meals receive the substance and nutrition that they require and deserve during what is a difficult time for all. A big thank you to all involved.”

Morrisons customer and community director Rebecca Singleton added; “Since November, schools have been telling us they’ve had difficulty getting free school meals to children as many parents cannot get to a supermarket during the pandemic. Our Morrisons School Meals Boxes will ensure that children are getting good-quality, nutritional food delivered directly to their door.”