Glasgow’s GDK serves up 30,000 NHS meals in tie-up with Deliveroo

A fast food chain specialising in low-calorie kebabs is teaming up with Deliveroo to contribute 30,000 free meals to NHS workers and vulnerable people.

GDK’s signature dish has become one of the country’s most ordered dishes in the past month, according to Deliveroo.

German Doner Kebab (GDK) – owned by the Glasgow-based Sarwar family – is making food available to frontline healthcare staff and those unable to leave the house during the coronavirus pandemic.

The kebab chain, which has 41 restaurants across the UK, joins contributors including Pizza Hut, Itsu and Lewis Hamilton’s plant-based Neat Burger restaurant in collaborating with Deliveroo.

GDK’s signature dish “The Original German Doner Kebab” has become one of the country’s most ordered dishes in the past month, according to Deliveroo.

The fast-growing food chain has outlets across the UK and overseas.

The Glasgow chain said the meals will be made available in areas where both GDK and Deliveroo provide coverage and where there is demand from NHS hospitals, primary care sites or field hospitals. Deliveroo is working with individual hospitals to identify where the need is greatest.

The tie-up is part of the food delivery service’s wider push to raise funds and donate food to frontline workers, with users able to contribute cash through the Deliveroo app.

The groups will initially focus on making deliveries in London and Manchester before seeking to do this in other parts of the country.

GDK chief executive Imran Sayed said: “We have been completely overwhelmed and inspired by the incredible dedication and courage shown by NHS staff during the Covid-19 crisis. Our commitment to provide 30,000 free meals to NHS workers is a big gesture of support from the GDK family and recognises their super-human efforts in an already overwhelmed NHS service.

“We stand beside them during these unprecedented times and will continue to do our best to provide valuable help to the selfless heroes that are saving lives and helping vulnerable people in communities throughout the country.”

In November the chain revealed that sales had risen by almost 50 per cent after a period of aggressive UK expansion.

The business is currently embarking on expansion into Saudi Arabia, with a development agreement of 100 stores over the next ten years. This aims to build on the fast food firm’s presence in the Middle East, where it already has outlets across United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

Franchises have also been signed in Canada’s Ontario and British Columbia provinces, with negotiations underway to open outlets in the US.

Will Shu, chief executive and founder of Deliveroo, said: “GDK were the first to contribute to this important initiative and we are incredibly grateful for their generosity.

“Those in the NHS working night and day to save lives are the real heroes of this crisis, and we want to do our small part to support them and the vulnerable who aren’t able to leave their homes.”

GDK was created in Germany in 1989 and launched in the UK in 2016 by United Brands, the Glasgow-based cash and carry group owned by the ­Sarwar family.

A year later the company bought the worldwide rights to the brand and announced ambitious plans for international expansion.

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