EMERGENCY caterers have been drafted in after Salford’s supplier of meals on wheels went bust.

The council has had to recruit two other firms as an emergency measure after Leeds-based firm Flowfood went into administration.

All 130 staff - including 80 based in Ashton under Lyne - have been made redundant after a failure to find a buyer for the business.

Salford is one of seven local authorities who are customers of the Leeds-based firm Flowfood, which provided ready-made meals.

It was contracted to provide about 196 meals a day to people - mainly predominantly the elderly - who are unable to cook for themselves at home. They can either receive hot meals or batches of frozen portions to be re-heated.

Councillor Keith Mann, Salford council’s lead member for community services and health, said: "The council had a contract with FlowFood to supply frozen meals to 196 people across the city.

"Up to seven days worth of frozen meals are normally delivered once a week and residents have been contacted to inform them of a change of supplier and to make sure they have enough food at present.

"We have responded as quickly as possible to this situation to ensure only minimal disruption to the service and by setting up temporary contracts with two companies to provide the same service.

"These temporary contracts will remain until January 2010 when they will be reviewed."

Flowfood and its sister companies, Economy Kitchens and Laughton Bros, went into administration on Friday. Leeds-based Economy Kitchens supplied chilled foods to Flowfood.

Philip Duffy, from partner at administrator MCR, said: "This case will impact many local authorities and their ability to deliver meals-on-wheels to thousands of people across the country."