A PAIR of siblings are making the most of not being able to do their day jobs by starting their own food delivery service in Wilmslow.

Andy Hart and his sister Jane, who both work in the aviation industry, have been massively impacted by the pandemic, but they haven't let that get in the way of their ambitions.

For Andy, a pilot, working from home hasn't been an option, so he decided to branch out and start Wilmslow Eats, a food delivery business, with a focus more on the community it serves.

He said: "We've had a long standing ambition of having a business of our own.

"Then, at the end of last year we set this up.

"The idea behind it is, it's run by local people, for local people, and we try and offer it at a really low rate of commission compared to the bigger apps.

"We're all about supporting the local community and supporting local restaurants and then keeping most of that money in the community if we can."

Food delivery businesses are growing rapidly, with several of the big names increasing their reach into towns and cities across the country, with lockdown restrictions meaning more and more people have been using them.

However, with people unable to actually go out and dine in restaurants, they have also acted as a lifeline to the hospitality sector too, helping to keep many businesses afloat.

"We started operating back in December," Andy said.

"It's very tough out there for businesses at the moment.

"We actually offer delivery for Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Mobberley and Knutsford as well.

"Unlike the likes of Deliveroo who might charge businesses around 30 per cent, we charge more like 7 and a half per cent.

"We've got an ambitious plan to be THE local platform for all our eateries, take aways and restaurants that people all know and love.

"But for the first couple of years we plan to put back what we earn into advertising and supporting local charities."

Knutsford Guardian: Andy making a donation to the local foodbank in Wilmslow.

Andy making a donation to the local foodbank in Wilmslow

One the of the organisations they have partnered with is the local foodbank in Wilmslow, St Bartholomew's Food Friend, when during January they donated one item of food for every order placed on the app.

Andy added: "We're genuinely trying to have it that all the local restaurants and take aways keep much more of the order money for themselves.

"And then whatever we generate, we're putting it back into the community.

"We don't want to take money out of the business, we'd rather it just grow.

"At least then we know we stand a chance in the medium to long term of actually taking on the bigger apps.

"One of the other things we try and do is work with local start up independents.

"We've got quite a few on our app that might not have been given the same kind of coverage by the bigger ones.

"I guess we're trying to be all things for all people.

"We don't rule anyone in or out and we try and give everyone a chance, whether they're a big name or a small independent."

Wilmslow Eats works like any other food delivery app and is available to download on the App Store and Google Play.