About us
Eat Well MCR was founded by chef Mary-Ellen McTague and two friends, Gemma Saunders and Kathleen O’Connor in March 2020. It was intended to be a temporary response to a global pandemic. The three women are committed to continuing the initiative, providing chef made meals to people in need.
Mary-Ellen
Mary-Ellen McTague is one of Manchester’s most sought after chefs, known for her work ethic, collaborative approach and giving back. Mary-Ellen was one of the early pioneers of seasonal eating and reducing waste in her cooking, which she combines with creativity and skill when producing menus.
About Eat Well MCR Mary-Ellen says “The food that we provide goes beyond satiating hunger, it’s about an emotional lift - that moment of relief or relaxation where you can switch off from whatever’s going on at that time in your life. That’s what the hospitality industry does for it’s customers and it’s what we hope to do for people living with some very challenging circumstances.”
Gemma
Co-Founder Gemma and Mary-Ellen met whilst working for the Manchester International Festival in 2015. When covid struck they joined forces again - coordinating thousands of meals for delivery to people in need across Greater Manchester. Gemma ensures the operation runs smoothly, while using her extensive events experience to conceptualise and deliver high calibre events, such as a recent dinner held on Castlefield Viaduct in partnership with the National Trust, and the annual NRB dinner, Eat Well MCR's flagship fundraising event.
Of Eat Well MCR Gemma says, "I love Eat Well MCR for its generosity of spirit and the collective effort - we get a lot done when we work together!".
Kathleen
Kathleen O’Connor knew Mary-Ellen and Gemma Saunders individually, but it wasn’t until she volunteered to help with meal deliveries while furloughed that she connected the dots between the two friends. Kathleen is a strategic Marketing Consultant with a background in Professional Services and Tech Industries. Kathleen brings this experience to Eat Well MCR, being the driving force behind the marketing and comms strategy, and tapping into her network of business contacts to help find funding and partnership opportunities.
Kathleen says, “Our roles at Eat Well have always overlapped as we all have strong opinions and are equally driven to ensure we can sustain Eat Well MCR for as long as is possible. It’s been an absolute privilege to be a part of something that has a positive impact on our city and shines a light on our amazing hospitality industry.”
Jane
Jane Walton is the Support Co-Ordinator at Eat well MCR, ensuring that thousands of meals are collected from restaurants across the city and delivered to the various organisations Eat Well MCR partners with. Jane is also Eat Well MCR’s unofficial photographer, documenting events and more recently celebrating the chefs and hospitality workers that support Eat Well MCR with a photo series that can be purchased in our online shop.
On working for Eat Well MCR Jane says “It’s a privilege to witness the generosity in abundance in the hospitality industry, and see good food going to those who don’t have the chance to go to restaurants. We all get so much joy out of food—to be able to give a little bit of that to someone in need is very special.”
In good company
Eat Well MCR relies on the support of chefs, restaurants, and volunteers, to provide meals week in week out all year round. Financial support from generous supporters funds this work. To find out how you can support our activities, click the button below.
Curated Events
With our extensive experience in curating events and experiences, we can support you in creating truly memorable fundraising events.
From creating intimate dinners to foodie festivals, we have a team that can help you raise funds to support the community, while delivering an exceptional event experience.
“What a night! The fundraising dinner to launch the annual Northern Restaurant & Bar Show has become a highlight of the hospitality calendar. Each year the Eat Well team surpass themselves with the chef line up, the food and drink delivered and the overall fabulous time had by all who attend.’
Chris Brazier, Group Event Director, Northern Restaurant and Bar Show.