New business thrives feeding Bristol builders
A new business, set up from home by a woman in Greenbank, Bristol, is thriving after providing food for workers on a city regeneration site.
Angelina Morris started Bread and Cloth in June last year, despite the pandemic, and is now employing two local people providing healthy, homecooked food for builders and contractors working on The Chocolate Factory project in Greenbank.
Each day construction workers order their morning snack, lunch and afternoon break food by text or phone and Angelina and her team deliver it on foot to the site. It has proved so successful that she is now delivering to other smaller building sites in the area.
Said Angelina: “We had the idea before the pandemic struck and that set back our plans. We wouldn’t have been able to open without the Chocolate Factory being developed. Thankfully that is so near to our home that we are able to walk there and serve the people on site.
“There are some great local places to eat but they are all a little too far to walk in the short time the workers get as a break. Our service means they do not have to drive to find food.
“It was a complete change of career for me. I worked in Business Development and Account Management before I had my son. My husband runs a design and build company so I know how hungry builders get so I wanted to provide good food and some variety. It has been great to also provide work for two people who were working in the events industry until Covid-19 hit.”
Bread and Cloth sources its food locally with bread supplied locally by Herberts Bakery. Everything is served in biodegradable packaging. Angelina is currently looking for a local free range egg supplier and hopes to eventually open a sandwich shop and deli locally.
She said: “We do serve those who want the traditional builders fare of sausage sandwiches and bacon, but we use quality sausages and we are a long way from the traditional greasy spoon. We are able to follow the seasons and we provide things like root vegetable soup. Our chorizo and chicken casserole sold out when we offered it. There are also a surprising number of vegetarians on site. We also provide lunches to the visitor centre when there are meetings going on there so the site is keeping us very busy. It’s great.”
John Richards, Project Lead for builders Sweet Construct, said: “Having Angelina deliver has helped us to comply with Covid-19 regulations and means less people have to leave site during the day. There are queues whenever she arrives and I can say from personal experience that the food is delicious.”
Bread and Cloth gets its name from the traditional cloth coverings used by construction workers in Morocco for their lunch. More information and menus can be found on the Bread and Cloth Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BreadandCloth/)
The Chocolate Factory is the redevelopment of the former Elizabeth Shaw factory which has been derelict for many years. New homes, workspace and a community hub are being created at the development alongside the Bristol to Bath Railway Path.
