Break time never tasted so good

HUNGRY WORK... Chef Raj Neupane serves lunch to management, staff and contractors at the construction site of the new Greater Shepparton Secondary College. Photo: Supplied

AN iconic Shepparton pub has survived some of the darkest days of the Coronavirus lockdown thanks to a food van set up to feed hungry construction workers at the new Greater Shepparton Secondary College site on Hawdon Street.

When the Peppermill Inn bid for the business opportunity in mid-winter, acting venue manager Todd Van Kerkhof was hopeful it would help keep business ticking over while the south Shepparton pub had to shut up shop.

“It’s done so much more than that,” Todd said. “We did 10 kilos of coffee last week alone – the workers there really like their morning coffee with an egg and bacon roll.”

Todd said even with the Peppermill returning to capacity, its Hawdon Street food van will remain an important part of the business through to the completion of the college in late 2021.

“We’re offering an alternative to a packed lunch, with freshly cooked food and a menu we change to match demand,” Todd said.

The kitchen is fired up from 6am and caters to the 100 or so workers on site, with those numbers to rise in pace with construction.

“When we were shut down it became a really good, positive project for us as a business,” Todd said.

“It kept the staff and management working and talking together as we sourced the van, fit it out and had our staff inducted to work on a construction site.

“It will be hard to leave when the school is all done!”