Fans of Spud Brothers, a jacket potato business in Preston, were deeply moved by a TikTok video showing them giving away free food.
The video, shared on @thespudbrothers with 3.6 million followers, captured a staff member offering an elderly couple the last two potatoes for free.
As the couple passed by the van, the employee called out, “Excuse me! Would you like two free jacket potatoes?” He then added, “Come on, we’ll warm you up. You look a bit cold.”
The couple seemed a bit shy but accepted the food. The staff member then listed the available toppings and began preparing their meals.
He first made a potato for the elderly man, adding garlic chili chicken and cheese. When he turned to the woman, she looked downcast.
The man explained that she had just fallen. Concerned, the vendor asked, “Oh no, are you alright?” and even offered to call someone for them.
The man declined and revealed that his wife has Alzheimer’s disease. He ordered the same toppings for her as his own meal.
The vendor, showing care, warned, “The garlic chili chicken is quite spicy. Is that okay for her?” He then handed over the food, saying, “As long as you’re okay, that’s the main thing.”
Spud Brothers was founded by Jacob and Harley Nelson in Preston and has since expanded, including a pop-up in London.
Many viewers were emotional after watching the video. One person wrote, “I wanted to cry watching this.” Another shared, “My late grandpa had Alzheimer’s. Her facial expression reminded me of him. He had bad falls too before he passed away.”
Someone else commented, “It wasn’t about the free food. It was about turning a bad day into a good one.”
Others praised the act of kindness, with one saying, “These moments restore my faith in humanity.” Another wrote, “Alzheimer’s is terrible. Good on you, Spud Brothers.”
Another viewer added, “My nan had dementia, and watching this was hard, but also heartwarming.”