Lexington Catering launches Fat Macy’s café and training space

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.

Fat Macy’s is a social enterprise that 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.

Lexington and Fat Macy’s have worked in partnership since 2019. Now, their collaborative permanent 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 of Fat Macy’s, Nathalie Moukarzel and Meg Doherty, said: “We are extremely thankful to Lexington for their collaboration with us at Fat Macy’s over the last four 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.”

Jesse Bliss, Head of Partnerships at Lexington said: “We’re incredibly proud to be working with Fat Macy’s and thrilled to be expanding the partnership even further. Fat Macy’s offers something truly unique in the business – from their delicious food to their dedicated team – everything they do has a purpose and the power to change someone’s life. We are humbled and honoured to play a small part in that journey.”