With Flights Grounded, Israeli Food Service Company Offering Deals on Airline Meals

JERUSALEM (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – After finding itself with an abundance of airline meals that had been prepared to feed El Al passengers during what was expected to be a busy summer travel season, an Israeli company that normally produces six million meals each year is hoping to stay afloat by selling its pre-cooked foods directly to the public.

Tamam Kitchen began firing up its ovens once again this spring when it appeared that the coronavirus outbreak was under control, but a second round of cases had El Al cancelling all flights until further notice, leaving the company, its more than 500 employees and an unknown number of already cooked meals in limbo, reported NPR. (https://n.pr/2DkQKUV) Banking on the idea that customers would enjoy the convenience of ready made food that could be warmed in the microwave, Tamam decided to sell its meals directly to the public with prices starting at 50 NIS, just under $15, for five meals.

“We have to think and reinvent ourselves,” said vice president of operation Nimrod Demajo. “We came up with this idea and it was like, you know, like lightning strikes us.”

Tamam is an El Al subsidiary which has been serving the airlines passengers since 1949 and also supplies Sun D’Or, Arkia, Uzbekistan Airways, Royal Jordanian and charter flights with food. It is certified kosher by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and is under the supervision of Rabbi Moshe Nachshoni. The company typically prepares as many as 30,000 meals for the busy summer season, but furloughed a significant number of its employees because of the pandemic.

Tamam’s home page invites visitors to enjoy meals from the world’s largest kosher kitchen, explaining “by doing so, you will help our company bring more employees back to work.”

Illusionist Uri Geller took to Facebook to promote Tamam’s latest business idea.

“I’m sure it’s tasty so why not help a company in need,” said Geller, displaying a vegan meal of dal, string beans and white rice. “Instead of these hardworking guys being fired, they have work.”

According to Demajo, approximately 100 meals are being ordered per day, mostly by senior citizens, with chicken and beef the most popular options. A video promoting the initiative showed four meals: curried schnitzel with rice and peas, beef in mushroom sauce with rice and black beans, fish balls in tomato sauce with couscous, and sweet potato ravioli in a pepper sauce with string beans and black lentils. Also available are fruit platters, sandwiches priced at 13 NIS and up, and salads starting at 15.5 NIS.

All of Tamam’s meals are available for pickup at their Ben Gurion facility, with free delivery on orders of over 300 NIS for customers in Gush Dan, Modiin, Yehud, Or Yehuda, Ramla, Lod and within the airport.

Feedback on Tamam’s Facebook page has been enthusiastic with many offering positive messages to the company and its employees.

“Well done,” wrote Shelly Habakeria. “We will be ordering to support you and the most important part is that your workers will have the ability to be paid. Kudos for thinking out of the box (or the plane).”