Total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International said goodbye to a highly valued member of their team as food technology consultant partner Lesley Holborow put down her pen after 22 years of service.

 

Lesley originally started working with Oakland in 2003 as a customer before becoming a highly regarded partner for the company’s auditing process.

 

Over the last two decades she has been instrumental in the company achieving various standards and accreditations vital in the food industry.

 

Presenting Lesley with a specially engraved pen and some flowers to mark her retirement, Oakland International Co-Founder Dean Attwell praised her dedication to duty and the way she had blazed a trail for others in the world of auditing.

 

He said: “The amount of people here today to say goodbye to Lesley reflects the length of the partnership between us and how much Lesley is valued here at Oakland.

 

“Lesley came to us as an auditor for one of our first major clients overseeing biscuit packaging but soon moved over to looking after the company’s audits and has led the way for subsequent teams to follow.”

 

Lesley said: “I have seen Oakland go from strength to strength and I will always be fond of my time here. During the pandemic everyone rightfully praised those in hospitals and emergency services who worked through to keep the country going but Oakland very much played their part too in making sure food was delivered at a time perhaps more vital than ever before.

 

“I wish the company every success in the future.”

 

A Certified B Corporation, Oakland International is an expert in saving food and non-food products from going to waste via their distress load management service, and a specialist and leader in direct-to-consumer services, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering, and brand development support for all types of food. They aim to be the first business within its sector to reach net zero and serve markets across the UK and Ireland.

 

Meals & More, the charity started by the UK’s leading foodservice wholesaler, Brakes, is celebrating its 10th birthday.

 

Over the past 10 years, the charity has provided more than 2.5 million meals and has grown from supporting three clubs in 2015 to more than 300 in 2025. In addition to providing grant funding, Meals & More has extended its operations to launch The Big Day Out, giving children a fantastic experience over the summer holidays and The Big Christmas Party, ensuring that children in need can experience the magic of the holiday season.

 

Meals & More was one of the first organisations to identify and challenge the problems associated with holiday hunger, which is suffered by millions of families across the UK when schools are closed and support is not readily available.

 

Since supporting its first holiday clubs in South Wales, Meals & More has funded research, launched campaigns to raise awareness of the problem and helped to ensure that holiday hunger reached the political agenda. As well as funding the provision of millions of meals through a range of delivery partners across the UK, Meals & More also focusses on supporting an environment where children can avoid the social isolation that is often associated with poverty and enjoy some fun and enriching activities.

 

Operations Director for Meals & More, Peter McGrath, said: “The charity has come a long way since the early days of supporting a handful of children in South Wales. What that showed was the tremendous need that exists and every year we’ve raised more funds to help more children. We’ve now supported more than 2.5 million meals and helped thousands of children not only with a good meal, but also creating some positive memories through the clubs and other activity.”

 

Driving the charity’s success since its launch has been Brakes, which has donated the equivalent of more than £3m to fund the charity’s vital work. Paul Nieduszynski, CEO of Sysco GB, said: “Our purpose is to connect the world to share food and care for one another and I can think of no better way of doing that than through Meals & More.

 

“When Brakes founded Meals & More, holiday hunger wasn’t even on the agenda. It is now top of mind for politicians and we’re seeing a growing number of people recognise the problem, and how addressing it can improve the lives of the millions of children that live in poverty in the UK.

 

“We feel we have made a meaningful contribution to change, and yet 10 years on, there is still much to do. We will continue to support Meals & More as our contribution to tackling holiday hunger. We are grateful to all the colleagues across Sysco GB, our suppliers and customers who have all helped to raise funds in support of Meals & More and the important work it undertakes.”