Mellors Launches ‘Moonlit Meals’ to Support Families During Ramadan

Posted: 22nd January 2026 | Category: Achievements, Team

Ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, observed by millions of Muslims across the UK and around the world, Mellors is proud to introduce Mellors Moonlit Meals — a new initiative designed to support pupils who are fasting by offering greater flexibility in how their Free School Meal (FSM) allowance can be used.

At Mellors, our ambition is to be the gold standard in inclusivity, serving delicious meals that is culturally respectful, diverse, and truly reflective of the communities we serve. Our people — and the communities we support — are at the heart of everything we do.

Each day, we lovingly prepare and serve school meals to a wide range of multi-faith schools, and by listening closely to pupils, families, clients, and school partners, we continue to find meaningful ways to respond to their needs.

Moonlit Meals enables families to choose from three carefully considered options, allowing pupils observing Ramadan to enjoy their meals after sunset in a way that best suits their household:

Take-Home Cold Meal Deal – A choice of sandwich, salad, cous cous or rice pot, paired with a home-baked treat or fruit and bottled water — ideal for taking home and enjoying at iftar.
Home “Care Package” of Cupboard Essentials – A selection of useful store-cupboard staples, such as rice, chopped tomatoes, spices, and other ingredients to support home-cooked meals throughout Ramadan.
Ready Prepared Meal – Freshly prepared each day and collected daily after school, with clear storage and reheating instructions to ensure safety and convenience. Meals are provided cold to reheat at home and include fruit and bottled water.

We understand the challenges families can face, and we believe no child should miss out on their Free School Meal entitlement. Moonlit Meals offers flexibility and choice — supporting families during this special time of year. Danielle Watkins, Head of Food Development at Mellors, said:

“Food sits at the heart of so many celebrations, and this is especially true during Ramadan. In many Muslim households, the arrival of Ramadan brings families together to prepare meals and share time with one another.

We wanted to help make this time a little easier for families by offering flexibility in how Free School Meals can be used — while adding a touch of Mellors sparkle.”

The initiative was developed collaboratively by Mellors passionate food teams across the North of England and Midlands, who trialled recipes, sampled ingredients, and shared honest feedback to ensure the offer was meaningful, respectful, and authentic.

Feedback plays a vital role at Mellors. Every initiative is carefully tried and tested before being introduced more widely into schools, ensuring it meets our high standards and genuinely reflects the communities we serve.

Our thanks to Siddra (Starbank Hob Moor Road), Emma (Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy East Birmingham), and Mahmud (Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy Bradford). Their insight and lived experience were instrumental in shaping Moonlit Meals.

Tony Trainor, CEO of Mellors, added:

“Moonlit Meals is incredibly special to us and has been developed over time in close collaboration with colleagues who observe Ramadan. It was essential that we created an authentic and respectful offering, and that meant listening at every stage.”

“This approach gave us confidence that Moonlit Meals would be a positive and meaningful way to recognise Ramadan, while also helping to raise awareness and understanding across our wider school communities. We’re incredibly proud to share it.”

Moonlit Meals reflects Mellors ongoing commitment to inclusivity, community wellbeing, and student support.

We estimate that around 130 primary and secondary schools may participate in the programme, with the potential to support up to 40,000 pupils and their families. Over the three-week Ramadan period, this could include the provision of more than 600,000 meals.