A BICESTER-based food supply company held an Apprentice-style contest to help an Oxford food bank.

Fresh Direct held a mass pie-baking contest at its annual conference at Blenheim Palace.

Staff from the Charbridge Way firm were put into teams for a timed challenge to make pies for Oxford Food Bank, which delivers free food to needy causes. The pies were judged by chief executive Nigel Harris and managing director David Burns.

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Mr Burns said: “This was a fantastic way for everyone to get involved in our fresh challenge and demonstrate how important our contributions to these charities are.”

Robin Aitken, co-founder of the food bank, in Curtis Yard, North Hinksey Lane, said: “We took away the pies they had made and they were distributed on the following day’s delivery runs to charities in the city where they went down very well.

“They have been extremely supportive for nearly four years and the food they have given us has gone to provide, literally, tens of thousands of meals for the poorest people in the community.”

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