Who's the food supplier in prisons?
Posted by Surethanks0@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 146 comments
I remember a while back when i was in for a short time, i was really hungry and was given a beautiful chicken korma in Glasgow. Ive been thinking about it since. Can anyone confirm who the supplier is please 🙏 it was so simple yet so good
I'm looking online, it could be 'bidfood'?
rimarshall99@reddit
It’s Bidfood.
They have a product called simply world foods chicken korma
It’s the same one in Aldi but under a different brand.
You’re welcome
Dabbles-In-Irony@reddit
This super niche question and answer thread is exactly why I come to Reddit. I read OP’s question like “pfft, who the fuck is gonna know that!?” and u/rimarshall99 just swoops in and drops a fucking knowledge bomb, not only answering OP’s question, but pointing him to where he can find it. This is what the internet should be about.
rimarshall99@reddit
Haha. Thanks. Been waiting for the day when my useless knowledge was due its Reddit debut
Prudent-Armadillo807@reddit
An hour late and a canteen sheet short to answer this and steal your thunder 🤣🤣🤣
rimarshall99@reddit
Haha. Sorry. You gotta move quick 🤣. But have you got the prison cookbook 😂😂
Prudent-Armadillo807@reddit
Are they chicken legs with jaundice or from pigeons? 🤣🤣
rimarshall99@reddit
Almost certainly pigeons 😂
Prudent-Armadillo807@reddit
It’s been 30 years since I was inside and they still serve them🤣🤣 known a guy to catch pigeons to eat n steam them in the hot plate. An African guy when I was in Highpoint. Bounty Bar was his name🤣🤣
Silvagadron@reddit
I just want to add some 😂 🤣 to the mix as it’s rare to see on Reddit.
Prudent-Armadillo807@reddit
Been the best sub I’ve been in, all over an alleged chicken leg & a canteen sheet🤣🤣🤣 I’m sure they were all left legs, where do the right ones go? 🤣🤣
Prudent-Armadillo807@reddit
I was just admiring it there🤣🤣 know a guy that had the same Christmas dinner as Barlinnie did a couple of years ago🤣🤣🤣
Hammerheads29@reddit
Don't steal, you'll end up in prison. Still, I hear the chicken korma is nice
Littleleicesterfoxy@reddit
I know the feeling, one in orchestra asked about a song with only a vague outline but I instantly knew they meant Puffing Billy and I felt like a god
emmaj4685@reddit
Omg you speak for us all knowledge thirsty redditers
takesthebiscuit@reddit
Hay I’m here for memes and cat pics!
Dabbles-In-Irony@reddit
Now we can both enjoy it!
EvandeReyer@reddit
Aldi wondering why the sudden inexplicable popularity of their Chicken Korma.
rimarshall99@reddit
Sensational 🤣
rimarshall99@reddit
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Wow aldis version is only £1.50 too thats mental
rimarshall99@reddit
Got one of these if you want to know anything else mate
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Ahh beautiful, an expert fr lol. Is that how u knew Bidfoods curry is same as aldis?
rimarshall99@reddit
Haha. No. I work for a mass catering company as a food development chef. Someone left this here a few years ago. Always thought wait would come In useful 🤣
CarsTrutherGuy@reddit
Also in the UK just guessing bidfood when faced with any question about mass supplies is going to be correct 90% of the time
rimarshall99@reddit
Yeah. Bidfood are pretty much the go to for any big catering my ops in the uk. More so in the north of the country
poopio@reddit
They quite frequently nearly run me over on my way to work in Leicester as well.
dew1911@reddit
Exactly what I was going to put. I'm in hospitality supply and 95 percent is bidfood/brakes/3663 or whatever they are called in your area.
The rest of us fight over the scraps
winobeaver@reddit
there are too many of these monopolies
Fluid-Economist8150@reddit
Hiya, I made an account just so I can reply to your comment but could I as you a couple of questions? I'm very interested in this type of job and was wondering what experiance you had before getting into that job role? I'm currently a chef currently working in an Asian restuarant but have previously worked in British cuisine restuarants and did a chef apprenticeship in my youth and think this experience and a level 3 nvq probably wouldn't be enough to he considered for a role like this where they'd probably he after somebody with a degree.
Thank you for your time if you decide to answer my question.
rimarshall99@reddit
Yeah of course always happy to help. Gimme 5 I will write a nice long reply 🤣
Fluid-Economist8150@reddit
Thanks mate much appreciated 👍🏻
rimarshall99@reddit
Right.
So qualifications wise level 3 is great. It’s mainly based on experience though. I was lucky that I got into it as the company j work for created the role for me. We had very rapid expansion. I work for a company called Somerset larder. So if you google Rob Marshall Somerset larder you will see there what I do. You can also find my contact details. Fire me an email and I will give you all the pointers you need.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Thats crazy lmao I searched it out of curiosity and found an article about hinckley point, just remembered my brother worked there too haha
Fluid-Economist8150@reddit
You the man. Cheers Rob
rimarshall99@reddit
You’re welcome
Pristine_Speech4719@reddit
🫡
Itchy-Factor-1040@reddit
But do.you have a copy.of the 48 Lawd of Power?
rimarshall99@reddit
Haha. No I don’t. Talk to me . What’s it about
Itchy-Factor-1040@reddit
I think it was on the 'banned' book list and would often be taken off of the inmate when Moving prisons.
It's about the power of psychological manipulation.
rimarshall99@reddit
Blimey. Might come in useful 🤣
Katatonic92@reddit
Hey, I guess crime does sometimes pay afterall.
lost_send_berries@reddit
Did you think the prison was giving you gourmet food
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Sure tasted like it 😂
poopio@reddit
There are now a bunch of blokes realising they're being fed prison food by their missus
delurkrelurker@reddit
They have cool pictures of vegetable landscape models on their lorries.
rimarshall99@reddit
Haha. They certainly do
delurkrelurker@reddit
Fantastic, memorable brand identity, completely wasted on me..
mittenshape@reddit
Saved OP from having to commit to a life of crime to get another korma
PatchyWhiskers@reddit
Low karma = good korma
elliott_pompey@reddit
420 upvotes nice
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Thanks bro, See thing is tho I've tried these supermarket ones from like waitrose too and it just doesn't hit the same
SpaTowner@reddit
The trick is to wait until you are as hungry as you were for the one in prison. There’s a saying (with lots of variations) that hunger is the best sauce/seasoning/spice/pickle.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Hmm words of wisdom, altho i was fasting then tbf
rimarshall99@reddit
Ah yeah the Waitrose ones will always be good for you. What you want is the ones from Iceland d or Aldi. More sugar,fat and preservatives. That’s the real good stuff 🤣.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Ahhh now we're talking, you're an expert at this bro 😂
stepage@reddit
Alan Partridge
jejdhdijen@reddit
You’re best going back to prison pal
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
Prisons are full mate. You need to get on a guest list
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
😂😂
DarkNinjaPenguin@reddit
There's a movie here somewhere.
He was a small-time crook nicked for holding up the local Spar.
She worked part-time in the prison kitchens while studying social sciences at the Open University.
When he got out, he was lost for months. When he reoffended, everyone thought it was because he missed her.
Truth is, he just missed her chicken.
irving_braxiatel@reddit
A girlfriend in a korma?
FehdmanKhassad@reddit
He was just trying to curry favour with her
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
🤣🤣🤣🤣Chicken Break
ReformedWolf@reddit
"In cinemas this summer.. He fell fowl of the law"
freudvsneo@reddit
Chicken run.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Bro im not complaining if they put butter chicken curry next 😂😂😂
Chilly87x@reddit
Hermolis supply food too
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Bru that's abit over the budget ngl, £50 for tea? Only the bourgeois prisoners can afford that haha
Icy-Caterpillar2649@reddit
Satan
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Huh
thisisspartattack@reddit
Yep, it's Bidfood. They habitually let their meat defrost and then refreeze it, and ship stuff in split packages hoping nobody will notice. That's where the flavour comes from. Source: worked there for a couple of months before the managers got fed up with me pointing out all the flies and rat droppings in the storage racks. Do your body a favour and spend the extra couple of quid on something safe to consume
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Is this for real? Like what about health inspections there, does it not happen? Or just clean up for inspections. Is it the same for other suppliers you think like Brakes
InternationalRide5@reddit
Most prisoners don't have the option of spending a little more, other than on sweets at the 'canteen'
thisisspartattack@reddit
That's a fair point. I meant more for those of us currently on the outside, with a little more freedom of choice with our meal options.
Wraithei@reddit
The cheapest bidder I imagine
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
😆
IntelligentMine1901@reddit
Just a heads up for anyone who may pay a visit to prison , never eat the broccoli..
I fractured a few rules many many years ago and worked in a prison kitchen , when the broccoli used to arrive it would be covered in caterpillars , and the whole lot used to get cooked , yum yum yum , free protein.
You’re welcome 😁
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Not to ruin anyone's appetite but there's a story back home when they were cooking for the soldiers and there was a lizard running around, so this guy threw his shoes at it and they both fell in the massive pot. They continued like nothing happened lmao
callisstaa@reddit
I worked at the food supplier that specifically supplies M&S.
A lot of the cooking was pretty hard work. Imagine a massive vat and a big mixer. You would collect the ingredients from the chillers and prep rooms around the factory, mix as needed then throw them into the vat and stir it up as it was cooking with a big metal oar.
It's hot in those rooms and the vat gives off a lot of steam. Also stirring food with an oar is fucking hard work, especially when it's just a load of shredded potato, diced onions and some oil for the rosti mix. I'd bet M&S rostis are at least 20% sweat.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Loll Is there not an electric oar thats easier to move around? I'd thought it would be more automated for these bigger suppliers
Simbooptendo@reddit
Curry in prison? That's awesome!
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Ikrrr was a pleasant surprise for sure
Djaren@reddit
Wouldn’t be surprised if it was my local pub
Accomplished_Week392@reddit
The reason it was so tasty, is that the secret was that it wasn’t chicken.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Hey, meat is meat let's not discriminate here
prettyflyforawifi-@reddit
Used to love a good Findus horse lasagne
callisstaa@reddit
I lived in Kazakhstan for a while and I don't care how wierd it is, horse meat is fucking unreal.
Dimac99@reddit
I don't care if the lasagne is made with horse meat, I only care that it is made with traceable horse meat which has been passed fit for human consumption.
prettyflyforawifi-@reddit
That’s why you look for a quality brand
IR2Freely@reddit
If you like proper chorizo you will love horse meat
GeordieAl@reddit
Chicken korma is people!
Cyanopicacooki@reddit
That's good sychronicity - we're having a discussion about Soylent Green here...
MintImperial2@reddit
Bidfood in some areas, Brake Brothers - in others.
I used to deliver to Belmarsh during my time as a ZHC delivery driver pre-lockdown....
Another round I used to get there were resupplying the Stately Homes and heritage sites, such as Hever Castle, Ferry re-supply, and Airport Eateries - and of course the Hospitals and Hospices.
The vetting procedure - is that you "don't know anyone that works or lives there" - similar to the vetting that takes place for Juries ahead of a trial. I think you have to pass a CRB check as well, which is why you don't see Deliveroo, Just Eat, and other unregistered (bike-riding) delivery people there at all.
Before "bike rider" deliveries, all us ZHC drivers were unceremonially let go when the lockdown started, rather than pay us furlough money as the government said we were actually entitled to get.
"Being conned out of Furlough Payments" caused a lot of resentment among Supply chain drivers all over the country, as the Gov.uk website said that we were all apparently entitled to full furlough pay IF we'd been there at least 12 months continuous on ZHC - which most of us were, myself included....
This caused a lot of ZHC people to leave the industry altogether (went back to Eastern Europe, or took Early Retirement) - which precipitated a huge shortage of delivery drivers around the UK which prevails to this day five years later..... Hey Presto - bike deliveries have filled part of that gap in the delivery market!
First-Can3099@reddit
The problem is, we’ve all had that amazing meal on holiday but it just doesn’t taste quite the same when you’re back at home.
coomzee@reddit
Not all the time, Czech and Austrian food is pretty bad. Just meat and potatoes
-Po-Tay-Toes-@reddit
I have a tattoo of a fish pie that I had somewhere and I'm pretty sure it was the best thing I'll ever eat. I can still go back but they've changed it now so I had to get the tat in memoriam.
takesthebiscuit@reddit
You should have got a tattoo of the recipe
-Po-Tay-Toes-@reddit
I should've asked for it. It was so good and it'll sadden me forever.
pockets3d@reddit
: The year was 1968. We were on recon in a steaming Mekong delta. An overheated private removed his flack jacket, revealing a T-shirt with an ironed-on sporting the MAD slogan "Up with Mini-skirts!". Well, we all had a good laugh, even though I didn't quite understand it. But our momentary lapse of concentration allowed "Charlie" to get the drop on us. I spent the next three years in a POW camp, forced to subsist on a thin stew made of fish, vegetables, prawns, coconut milk, and four kinds of rice. I came close to madness trying to find it here in the States, but they just can't get the spices right!
donalmacc@reddit
"amazing meal on holiday"
bruh
BungadinRidesAgain@reddit
Thatsthejoke.jpg
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Facts
Jacktheforkie@reddit
It’ll likely vary by region but most definitely a company like bidfood, brakes etc
Celery_Worried@reddit
Years ago my husband spent a night in the cells and loves to tell the story about how the only vegetarian food available was a microwave veggie lasagne, and it was so terrible the staff apologised for serving it to him 😂 glad to know things seem to have improved since the eighties.
Naive_Product_5916@reddit
I would imagine it was Serci or some other parasitic company.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Hmm why u say that
Naive_Product_5916@reddit
Serco
Shane-Danger@reddit
Is it Aramark? I know they have some prison contracts.
BabyNameBible@reddit
And theme parks, unfortunately
narsil_reddit@reddit
it was probably chicken of the cave that's why it was so good
leninzen@reddit
It probably varies from prison to prison
Trick-Station8742@reddit
Doubt it
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Do you think Freedom of info act request would help ?
leninzen@reddit
Ooo that's a good idea. Probably your best bet. You could just email/call the prison and ask and see what they say
MunkeeseeMonkeydoo@reddit
Do you not think it would sound suspicious asking details about someone who supplies stuff to prisons. You could be planning on smuggling stuff into the jail for all they know.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Exactly bro I'm not chancing it with these guys
leninzen@reddit
You sound experienced
MunkeeseeMonkeydoo@reddit
I can't be that experienced if I'm posting my modus operandi on Reddit! 😂
leninzen@reddit
Hiding in plain sight 😉
MunkeeseeMonkeydoo@reddit
In the chicken curry 😉
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Bro idk about that. When the guy let me out and i just walked out, a police van pulls up outta no where and they're screaming wtf you doing here. I'm like bro the officer released me here, hes like well fukn move on if you don't wanna go back 😂 ( turns out he let me out from the back entrance)
Traditional-Roll-102@reddit
🤣
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
They'd probably be chuffed to get a compliment for once.
ClimbsNFlysThings@reddit
When they wrote that law, they didn't realise....
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Oh the people who were going to be meeting on a daily basis realised.
iambeherit@reddit
Probably Brakes or Bidfoods.
melanie110@reddit
It’s used to be DBC Food service but they went into administration so it went to BidFood
Chris-TT@reddit
Some prisons are supplied by the same ones that supply Alton Towers and the other Merlin Theme Parks, and I'm not joking! A company called Aramark.
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Lol that's crazy looks like the peasants and kings have more in common
FoodEnvironmental368@reddit
I believe most facilities in England use Aramark https://www.aramark.co.uk/industries/government-and-judicial/judicial
Smart-Decision-1565@reddit
Considering Glasgow isn't in England, this doesn't really answer the question.
Metrobolist3@reddit
Someone ought to tell the guys over in Bridgeton.
Chris-TT@reddit
The same one who supplies food to Alton Towers and the other Merlin Theme Parks, and I'm not joking. A company called Aramark.
upadownpipe@reddit
Knuckles McGinty. Does a great marmalade sandwich
IPoisonedThePizza@reddit
Australia
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Canada
firthy@reddit
I saw a documentary about prison food recently - it was a bloke called Knuckles, I think.
BlueberryLemur@reddit
Depends who runs the prison. There are a number of private companies that run UK prisons and then there are some publicly run prisons. Even without publicly run prisons you may get outsourced catering. So in answer to your question, it really depends on which facility you were in, when it was, who held the contract etc.
arsevole@reddit
SnoopyLupus@reddit
It’s big Dan on the second floor. Don’t get on the wrong side of him.
Other_Exercise@reddit
Dan the man
WeSavedLives@reddit
Sodexo used to be the big contract caterer in prisions. They use brakes food supplier.
Reasonable_Duck8414@reddit
Brakes or Bidfood
Surethanks0@reddit (OP)
Oh i was just looking at them
Demand_Snail@reddit
I know Bidfood deliver to a lot of prisons nationwide
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