Covid cases confirmed at Wellingborough head office of national food and drink wholesaler

A number of Covid cases have been confirmed at the headquarters of food and drink wholesaler Booker.

The company, which has 195 branches across the UK, confirmed that some staff have tested positive for coronavirus at its head office in Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough

A spokesman for Booker told the Northants Telegraph: "A very small number of colleagues have tested positive for Covid-19.

"Their close contacts have been informed.

"The safety of our colleagues, customers and suppliers remains our number one priority and we are following all Government guidance and working with local public health authorities.

"We have extensive measures across all of our sites to help keep everyone safe including social distancing and regular cleaning.”

Booker Group Limited is a food wholesaler offering branded and private label goods to more than 400,000 customers, including independent convenience stores, grocers, pubs, and restaurants.

In January 2017, it was announced that multi-national supermarket retailer Tesco had agreed to buy the company for £3.7 billion and the deal was completed the following year.

Figures released during last week's Northamptonshire Covid-19 press conference showed that Wellingborough as well as Northampton, Kettering, East Northamptonshire and Corby’s rates were significantly higher than the national average.

As of February 21, the total number of cases for Wellingborough was 4,498, with the number of deaths of people who had a positive test result for Covid-19 and died within

28 days of the first positive test standing at 128.

And just last month, health bosses said they were keeping 'a close eye' on Covid rates in three areas of the town, describing Wellingborough as an area of 'slight concern.'However, the number of cases seem to be coming down.

Latest figures from yesterday (Wednesday) show that Wellingborough's Covid case rate is now 97 per 100,000 - the 79th highest in England.

Wellingborough recorded eight cases yesterday (Wednesday).

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