Delivery boys get a pizza the action

TWO business partners who came up with an idea for the home delivery of meals have been overwhelmed by the success of their new venture.

David Ward (38), from Shaw, and Lee Stafford (29), from Moorside, were former partners in a sports flooring business.

It was during a social evening with friends that the idea of “I’m Lovin’ it Delivered” was conceived — initially as a jokey response to their frustrations at not being able to have their favourite food delivered.

Recalls Dave: “The only thing available was the usual local Chinese or Indian.

“It became clear that there was a gap in the market for a completely different type of delivery service which included everyone’s favourite.”

The idea really took off when Lee arrived at the flooring business one morning and suggested to Paul they look more seriously at their quirky idea.

Enthused, the pair set to making their idea work, designing an oven to fit into a Smart car — a patent is now pending on this innovation — and Lee floated the idea with friends on social networking site, Facebook.

Dave said: “The response was unbelievable and we realised by the fifth day we needed a second car.

“We then struggled for a further four weeks before investing in our third car and hired a part-time driver.

“Now we have four cars and have employed six people from within the Oldham community.

“We are hoping to take on several more in the next month.”

I’m Lovin’ it Delivered is now firmly established at Lovin’ it House, Derker Street, Oldham, where the call centre is operational processing orders by telephone and online.

The company started by delivering McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway and Armstrong’s fish and chips products and has since added Nando’s, Casa Belmondo, Blue Tiffin and Relish Tapas, in Grotton.

Said Lee: “We partner with the best in the area and only one of each type of food for complete exclusivity.

“Our aim is not only to offer the service to every single person but also grow the name into a national brand and provide jobs to the local communities.

“People really need a company like this during these hard times.

“We used to own a successful flooring company but once the recession hit, as with many trades, we started to struggle and changed our creative direction.”

The company has many different customers including older, housebound carer dependant people and disabled customers.

“Without us they couldn’t enjoy the rare treat of their favourite food,” says Lee.

They deliver to all of Oldham, plus outlying areas like New Moston and Castleton and, for a surcharge, will make what they call a ‘double drop’ by delivering from two suppliers.

“Sometimes one person will want a McDonalds and another a KFC and we can do this, but obviously there is a surcharge,” says Dave, adding that the business has a fledging lunchtime operation which they are hoping will grow to match the “phenomenal” weekend and evening business.