Corporate contract caterer Lexington Catering has launched a dedicated café space at one of its client sites in partnership with social enterprise Fat Macy’s, which aims to get Londoners out of hostels and into their own homes.
It provides a structured opportunity for those experiencing homelessness with a clear pathway to independent living. As part of the scheme, trainees learn and master valuable culinary and hospitality skills from professional teams in real-life environments, including the new café at one of Lexington’s financial services client sites in central London.
The café specialises in Lebanese food based on the enterprise’s restaurant in Shoreditch, Sohaila. It will serve a combination of hot mains and grab-and-go food options throughout breakfast and lunch periods, as well as a morning and afternoon bakery and a new menu every week as seasonal stock and flavours move throughout the year. Hot drinks include coffee from Pact Coffee using cafeina coffee beans.
The two organisations have worked in partnership since 2019. Now, their collaborative café will support the trainee programme and will serve as a unique location for training their staff. The more hours the trainees do, the more skills they learn, and the more income is generated for them. The Fat Macy’s scheme also helps its trainees with financial literacy, with advice and guidance on saving money and paying their bills.
At the end of the programme, trainees will have the necessary skills to gain employment within the hospitality sphere with help from the Fat Macy’s team. Upon securing an income, Fat Macy’s will also provide the funds for a rental deposit so trainees can move into their own home.
Co-founders Nathalie Moukarzel and Meg Doherty said: “We are extremely thankful to Lexington for their collaboration with us at Fat Macy’s over the last 4 years that has led to the opening of our new, permanent café at one of their client locations. Sites like these are paramount for our work with trainees, as we continue to grow and offer support to more people. We look forward to seeing the success of the new branch and serving delicious food to Lexington’s clients.”
