News Can you help your community by offering home delivery?

In response to demand for local businesses that are still trading and can provide food and essentials, Maidstone Borough Council is creating a directory on the Council website of them, please register now if you want to be added to the list.

Any business offering home deliveries or a take away service for food or essential items in the Maidstone district should register.

Businesses will need to provide:
* Name, address, including the postcode of the business
* Description of the service/product offered
* Telephone or online ordering information
* Website or facebook page address
* Area of Maidstone delivered to or where the takeaway is located (by postcode of areas covered or all of the Borough)
* Opening days and hours of business
* Image or logo (optional)
* Any other information: eg.offers to NHS, Fairtrade, charities supported

Businesses will also need to be able to take payment over the phone or online and should meet national guidance to stay open and operating.

John Foster, Head of Regeneration and Economic Development at Maidstone Borough Council said:

“We are thrilled that many businesses have managed to continue trading in very difficult circumstances and are reacting quickly to a change in demand.

“By creating a directory and promoting it widely across the borough we hope to provide essential information for residents who are struggling to get supplies so they can continue receiving food and other essential items they might need.”

“Whether you are a food supplier such as a butcher or farm shop, specialist food or drink producer or a takeaway restaurant please let us know and we can get the message out there you are still trading.”

To register please email: homedeliverybusinesses@maidstone.gov.uk
The directory is up and running on the Visit Maidstone website: https://www.visitmaidstone.com/eating-and-drinking/home-deliveries-and-takeaways where each business will have a detailed listing in a new Home Deliveries & Takeaways page. It will be promoted extensively to local media, on social media channels and via partner organisations.

Guidance is available for businesses that are not currently offering hot food takeaway/delivery service, but would like to without falling foul of planning regulations at: https://www.businessinmaidstone.co.uk/coronavirus/operating-as-a-hot-food-takeaway/

Maidstone Borough Council has also created a Community Support Hub to provide a coordinated response to help provide and deliver essentials to people across the borough who are most in need. For more information:  https://www.maidstone.gov.uk/home/other-services/covid-19/tier-2-primary-areas/community-hubs-and-local-support

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