Pair have lots on their plate

A Marlborough food company that serves about 600 fresh meals to older residents every week has new owners.

Linda Grace and Penny Dawson formed Quest Catering 15 years ago. But after more than 40 years in the hospitality industry they have decided to retire and have sold the business to young Blenheim entrepreneurs Cecil Sakhare, 31, and Nikita Webb 22.

With a background in hospitality and aged-care, Grace said the couple was ‘‘the right fit’’.

‘‘A young couple needed to take it on. They are nice, friendly, welcoming people, and they are very passionate about the agedcare industry.

‘‘They have the next 20 years to carry the business on very successfully,’’ Grace said.

A baker by trade, Sakhare moved from India in 2015 and met Webb two years later, when they were working in the same pub.

The pair launched a fooddelivery service called Crouton Company in February 2021, supplying customers and businesses, including Quest Catering.

‘‘We’ve known them for a couple of years and that always makes life much easier,’’ Grace said. ‘‘For elderly people, a lot of them won’t even notice the change.

‘‘And for catering, Cecil and Nikita have got lots of lovely new fresh ideas, so it’ll be exciting for them and for Marlborough,’’ Grace said.

Sakhare said they planned to keep the business as it was for older residents, offering simple but flavourful meals.

‘‘This is the brand, and this is the language that the elderly have understood, and accepted, so we want to keep it that way.’’

Webb said they experienced immense pressure when they started their delivery service in 2021.

‘‘Crouton was my first time ever in a business, it was very scary making it through, we started in a very rough time, but Crouton is now a very successful business.

‘‘I’m not as scared to run this one because I know we can do it.’’

The team of four employees has carried on with the new owners, preparing and delivering fresh meals in Blenheim and Picton to a client base ranging in age from 60 to 100.

Sakhare said they started at 5.30am and at 8.30am-9am they loaded the cars for the delivery run. Rather than a takeaway box, meals are served in a plate, for $14, including the delivery.

‘‘You can’t go like $21 for a meal delivered because they [the elderly] wouldn’t be able to afford it,’’ Sakhare said. ‘‘During winter, some people have to make a choice between either staying warm, or getting a meal.

‘‘If it’s that tough, as a business owner you have to make sure that you keep the best prices with the best quality.’’

Webb will keep running the Crouton Company while also managing Quest Catering customers.

Sakhare is hands-on, along with kitchen manager Jody Ellis.

‘‘We tasted the meatloaf that Jody makes, and it’s a must-try. The taste is beyond words.’’